Farm Fresh has developed quite a taste for marathon matches – and on Tuesday, the Foxies once again showed why they are a team that refuses to fold when the going gets tough.
In a territory where it feels most at home, Farm Fresh overcame an early three-point lead, weathered a pair of three-point deficits in the deciding set, then outlasted a gritty PLDT side in an extended fifth-set showdown, 20-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-20, 17-15, in the PVL All Filipino Conference Siklab Series at the Araneta Coliseum.
Trisha Tubu unleashed a career-defining 30-point explosion, almost single-handedly powering the Foxies through the tense finish with five of the team's final eight points. But while Royse Tubino delivered the decisive off-the-block hit that finally sealed the hard-earned two-hour, 19-minute victory, it was Tubu's sheer power, impeccable timing and nerves of steel that illuminated the thrilling finish.
The victory was particularly satisfying for Farm Fresh, which not only improved to 4-2 but also snapped its alternating loss-win-loss-win pattern in its recent five-set encounters, underscoring its growing resilience in the most demanding of matches.
Down 1-2 in sets, the Foxies refused to surrender, taking command in the fourth to force a decider and extend their remarkable run of five-set battles to five straight matches.
PLDT, however, proved every bit as stubborn, refusing to let the Foxies dictate the outcome without a fight.
Against a High Speed Hitters squad that had yet to go beyond four sets in its first five matches, Farm Fresh seized early control of the decider, 6-3, only to find itself under siege as PLDT mounted a determined mid-set comeback.
With Savi Davison leading the charge, the High Speed Hitters strung together three consecutive points to draw level before surging ahead, 11-8, on a solid backrow attack from the explosive ace.
But just as PLDT appeared to have wrested control, Tubu found her favorite attacking position in the open as the southpaw shifted into another gear.
Aided by a PLDT net-touch infraction, Tubu hammered a shot to the backcourt, ending a lengthy exchange. Davison and Alleiah Malaluan answered with consecutive hits to restore PLDT's three-point cushion at 13-10, but that only set the stage for Tubu's takeover.
With PLDT committing costly net errors, Tubu pulled Farm Fresh level at 13 before blasting through Dell Palomata's block to put the Foxies back in front.
Kim Dy briefly halted the Farm Fresh surge, capitalizing on an overpass to extend the match and force another tense exchange. But Tubu, the reigning league MVP, remained undeterred, scoring on an out-of-system play to keep the Foxies within striking distance.
Davison saved another match point in the ensuing rally, but Tubu answered with another off-the-block missile, putting Farm Fresh back in the driver's seat.
This time, the Foxies made sure there would be no reprieve for their opponents.
After digging out a PLDT attack and capitalizing on the High Speed Hitters' scrambling defense, Farm Fresh shifted the ball to Tubino, who delivered the finishing off-the-block hit to finally put away the stubborn High Speed Hitters and unleash a celebration from the Foxies' bench.
For PLDT, it was a heartbreaking finish to an otherwise spirited stand. The High Speed Hitters displayed tremendous resolve, repeatedly clawing their way back from deficits and twice putting themselves within reach of victory. But costly errors at the most crucial juncture, coupled with Tubu's unstoppable assault, ultimately proved decisive.
The victory also halted PLDT's impressive three-game winning streak following back-to-back setbacks, dropping the High Speed Hitters to a joint fifth-place tie with the Akari Chargers at 3-3.
Tubu's 30-point outburst, highlighted by an impressive 56-percent attack efficiency, earned her Best Player of the Game honors. Yet, true to her team-first approach, the explosive hitter was quick to downplay her individual achievement and credit the collective effort that carried Farm Fresh through the grueling encounter.
For Tubu, the secret was not individual brilliance but the discipline to stay locked in, regardless of the score or how long the battle dragged on.
“Ang mindset ng bawat isa, anuman ang mangyari – straight sets man o umabot pa ng five sets – kailangan naming pagtrabahuhan ang bawat puntos. Lagi ngang sinasabi ni coach Koji (Tsuzurabara) na mag-focus lang kami sa bawat rally at huwag munang isipin kung mananalo o matatalo,” said Tubu.
Tubino finished with 14 points, while Mylene Rezanova and Ces Molina chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Roselyn Aquino and Rizza Cruz added seven and six points as Farm Fresh outscored PLDT in attacks, 70-65, and blocks, 10-9.
Alohi Robins-Hardy also orchestrated the offense with 23 excellent sets, upstaging counterpart Kim Fajardo, who tallied 19. Tubu likewise contributed nine excellent digs and Tubino added 13 receptions, while Maicah Larroza anchored the defensive effort with 13 digs and 21 excellent receptions.
Davison paced PLDT with 23 points, while Jovie Prado and Kim Dy added 13 and 10 markers, respectively. Palomata chipped in nine points.
With only two elimination-round assignments remaining against Capital1 and Creamline, Tubu stressed that the Foxies still have important work to do, particularly in sharpening their communication and building stronger on-court chemistry.
And while the victory provided a timely boost to their semis campaign, Tubu knows that sustaining their momentum will require greater cohesion, especially when opponents gain the upper hand.
“Communication talaga. May mga pagkakataon na nawawala ang usapan namin, especially kapag lamang na ang kalaban. Iyon ang patuloy naming inaayos sa training – kailangan naming mag-usap, magtulungan at sabay-sabay kaming umangat,” she said.
The crucial triumph lifted Farm Fresh to solo third place with a 4-2 record, giving the Foxies a significant boost in the increasingly tight race for the semifinals.
More than just another victory, however, the win reinforced a defining trait of this Farm Fresh squad: its ability to dig deep, absorb the pressure and find another gear when a match reaches its breaking point.
