Trisha Tubu set a new career-high of 32 points and the Farm Fresh Foxies put up a valiant stand against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, marking a promising conclusion to their 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Farm Fresh might have closed out its 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference campaign with a loss on Tuesday night, but Trisha Tubu and the Foxies went down swinging.
The young, promising Foxies dragged Sisi Rondina and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans to the brink, taking the match to a five-set thriller before ultimately succumbing, 15-25, 26-24, 25-21, 21-25, 12-15.
As the dust of an intense battle settled, Tubu set a new career-high of 32 points built on 30 attacks and two blocks.
This eclipsed her previous personal record of 30 points she tallied in a loss to the now-defunct F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference.
“Masaya po kasi ‘yun nga nagkabago akong career-high. So, sarap po sa feeling,” said Tubu, who is just in her second conference as a pro.
Tubu also stood her ground against Rondina, who poured 29 points and 18 excellent receptions, earning the reigning league MVP’s respect.
“Paliparan kami ng taas ng talon niya eh, 'di ko nga rin siya mabasa. Pero wala, ano rin 'yung bata eh, competitive and same lang din sa 'kin kung ayaw kong mabugbog 'yung mga kasama ko, ganun din 'yung ano niya, pinapakita. And 'yun, sana magtuloy-tuloy pa 'yung career niya kasi sobrang promising siya sa posisyon niya,” Rondina shared of the second-year opposite hitter.
[RELATED: PVL: Sisi Rondina lauds ‘promising’ Trisha Tubu, Farm Fresh after valiant stand against Choco Mucho]
Upon catching wind of Rondina’s glowing praises, Tubu could not help but feel elated.
“Ang sarap po sa feeling kasi Sisi Rondina ‘yun, ‘di ba? Tsaka ang sarap makakuha ng praise galing sa kanya,” the former Adamson stalwart bared.
“Sobrang sarap din po ng feeling na nakalaban namin sila tapos thankfully din po na nakapag perform po ako ng maayos and ‘yung team ng maayos against Choco Mucho na binigyan namin sila ng magandang game.”
More than anything, Tubu takes pride in Farm Fresh’s gallant stand against one of the strongest teams in the league.
Tubu and the rest of the Foxies challenged the Flying Titans at every turn, with both teams exchanging intense rallies in what turned out to be a battle of attrition.
In the end, Rondina and Choco Mucho showcased superior experience and composure to pull off a thrilling escape act.
Nevertheless, Farm Fresh displayed fierce competitive spirit, delivering a strong statement that it has the talent and heart to compete with the league’s top contenders.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Trisha Tubu, Farm Fresh embrace growth through new system amid challenging campaign]
The Foxies, culprits behind the upset loss of the Chery Tiggo Crossovers earlier in the season-opening conference, finished their campaign with a 3-8 record, an improvement from their 2-9 bid in the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference.
“Natapos po namin ‘tong conference with a high note po, even na natalo po kami. Alam po namin na binigay namin ‘yung best namin. ‘Yun lang din naman po hinihingi ng coaches namin and si Tito Frank [Lao] po na [mag] all out po. Wala naman po mawawala sa amin kung hindi namin ilalabas lahat,” Tubu said.
As Farm Fresh continues to embrace the Japanese system introduced before the season, Tubu and the rest of the Foxies are determined to sharpen their skills, become more mature as a unit, and return even stronger in the next conference.
“Sa akin lang po ‘yung maturity, ‘yun po ‘yung paunti unti pong nag go-grow sa amin ngayon. ‘Yun nga po pinangako namin sa isa’t isa na before game na ‘to na talagang ia-all out namin. So doon palang po sa maturity na ‘yun, pinakita naman namin ngayon,” Tubu said.
“Siguro po sa susunod na season, Japanese system pa rin so mas polished po sana. Sana po sumabay po ‘yung pag angat ng maturity ng bawat isa at ‘yung maturity po namin.”