As they say, trust the process.
The Farm Fresh Foxies signed up ten players to join their ranks, but it feels like everyone went back to school with the entry of team consultant Hideo Suzuki and Shimizu Mikihiro.
Strong Group Athletics' Frank Lao tapped Suzuki, the coach of PVL Invitational Conference champion Kurashiki Ablaze, to whip the young Foxies into shape.
So Suzuki got Master Shimizu to help out and drill the basics.
[ALSO READ: Ganbatte! PVL teams are embracing the Japanese system and why it's a good thing]
Will the Foxies pass with flying colors?
Coach: Jerry Yee
Departures: Michelle Gamit, Kiara Cruz, Gayle Pascual, Justine Dorog (turned coach), Jessa Dorog, Cloanne Mondonedo, Zam Nolasco, Jade Gentapa
Acquisitions: Jolina Dela Cruz, Caitlin Viray, Anj Legacion, Julia Angeles, Ely Kasilag, Janel Delerio, Ypril Tapia, Chinnie Arroyo, Jaycel delos Reyes, Lorene Toring
AFC lineup
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Outside hitters: Kate Santiago, Alyssa Bertolano, Pia Ildefonso, Ely Kasilag, Ypril Tapia, Chinnie Arroyo
- Opposite spikers: Trisha Tubu, Caitlin Viray
- Middle blockers: Rizza Cruz, Camill Avila, Ckyle Tagsip, Joan Narit, Jaycel delos Reyes, Lorene Toring
- Setters: Louie Romero, Anj Legacion
- Liberos: Cae Lazo, Julia Angeles, Janel Delerio
Previous AFC record: 2-9 (10th)
The Farm Fresh Foxies had a breakout 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference, picking up their first two victories for the franchise.
Trisha Tubu was the fourth top scorer of the preliminaries with 183 points, while Kate was 10th with 139 points. They also figured as the fifth and ninth best spikers, respectively.
Alyssa Bertolano finished as the eighth best server with 11 aces to her name, while Louie Romero immediately put the league on notice in her rookie conference as the third best setter.
Oh captain, my captain
Louie Romero finds herself with quite an arsenal, having Trisha Tubu, Kate Santiago, and Caitlin Viray as her main guns.
The blessing also comes at a cost.
"Masarap sa feeling, marami kang spikers na pagpipilian," Romero told reporters during the PVL Media Day.
"Mahirap din on my part, kailangan kabisaduhin. As a spiker, marami silang choices na kailangan pagdating sa set. As a setter, iaadjust ko 'yung gusto nila para 'di kami mahirapan pagdating ng game."
[ALSO READ: PVL: Louie Romero relishes spiker arsenal of Kate Santiago, Trisha Tubu, and Caitlin Viray for Farm Fresh]
The Japanese training is a pretty big change for the young squad, but Romero told the Foxies they just have to adopt, adjust, and learn something every day.
What they said
"Parang lahat kami, bagong players. Sabay-sabay kaming bago talaga."
That's how Trisha Tubu described the experience of the young Foxies core, along with their recruits, during under Shimizu. At the time, they had just finished an intensive training session.
"Gusto niya, perfect lahat. Talagang grabe system nila, gusto nila pare-parehas, walang naiiba," Tubu noted to One Sports.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Kate Santiago gets honest about ‘intense training’ under Farm Fresh’s Japanese consultant]
The power spiker from Adamson was a bright spot for Farm Fresh, even delivering a 30-point explosion for the Foxies.
But she's relishing the presence of her ate and fellow opposite spiker Caitlin Viray, fresh from a silver medal win with the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
"Seeing Farm Fresh from last conference, andun 'yung talent and potential ng team. May mga lapses lang towards the end, so siguro 'yun 'yung kaya i-correct together, kung paano babalik 'pag sunod-sunod 'yung points ng kalaban," Viray noted.
[ALSO READ: Feisty Foxies: Trisha Tubu, Caitlin Viray embrace healthy competition at Farm Fresh]
Coach's corner
On paper, the Foxies look impressive with their ten-player haul.
But star spiker Jolina dela Cruz is still recovering from her surgery. So is middle blocker Lorene Toring, who had to end her UAAP Season 86 career short with the Adamson Lady Falcons after an ACL injury. So Coach Jerry Yee is cautioning against having too much expectation of the Foxies.
But he does laud what the Japanese training is doing, as Shimizu works on the Foxies' movement, footwork, posture, and positioning among many others.
He also welcomes the veteran infusion, noting Viray's demeanor.
"Kalmado siya kumilos. Kumbaga, hindi kilos-bata," he said. "Maturity siguro ang dadalhin niya sa amin."
But the aim for Yee is really quite simple. The Foxies have to finish better than 10th.
"We're a young team. Bigyan niyo kami ng kaunting time. Let us make mistakes," Yee said during the PVL Media Day. "And then after a few months, a few years, we'll be right there on top with the veterans."
First bout
The Farm Fresh Foxies will be immediately put to the test on February 24, Saturday, when they take on defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 6 p.m. game will air on One Sports, One Sports+, and the Pilipinas Live app.
(With reports from Xander Cipriano, Pao Ambat, Mei-Lin Lozada)