The Farm Fresh Foxies had the busiest and most talked about offseason moves ahead of the upcoming 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
2024 Reinforced Conference record: 3-5 (8th place)
Key additions: Rachel Anne Daquis, Jheck Dionela
Key players: Trisha Tubu, Louie Romero, Jolina Dela Cruz, Caitlin Viray, Lorene Toring
Coach: Benson Bocboc (new)
One word to describe Farm Fresh’s upcoming campaign
Overhauled.
Arguably the most talked about PVL team during the offseason was the Farm Fresh Foxies. And why wouldn’t they be?
The Foxies secured the services of veterans Rachel Anne Daquis and Jheck Dionela, former teammates in the Cignal HD Spikers.
Farm Fresh also signed Fil-Am setter Alohi Robins-Hardy, however, her status remains up in the air as the PVL said she needs to go through the draft process.
[ALSO READ: PVL confirms Alohi Robins-Hardy must enter draft before playing in the league]
Along with that, fans were buzzing to hear confirmation that Jolina Dela Cruz and Lorene Toring are finally ready to make their return sometime in the All-Filipino Conference.
But Farm Fresh wasn’t done just yet as they decided to tap UP women’s volleyball team head coach Benson Bocboc to replace Japanese coach Shota Sato.
Is this a sign of good things to come for the Foxies, who have shown they can compete at a high level with the right pieces?
“‘Yung preparation namin sobrang okay and alam ko na magpe-perform ‘yung bawat isa sa'min this upcoming All-Filipino Conference,” team captain Louie Romero told One Sports.
“Siguro ‘yung system lang talaga maayos namin and mabuo kami as a team na every game talaga ibibigay namin lahat ng best namin para manalo,” she added.
Biggest X-Factor for Farm Fresh this season
Trisha Tubu.
The 24-year-old lefty spiker continues to make strides in the PVL, winning the Best Opposite Hitter award during the Reinforced Conference.
As Farm Fresh awaits the return of Dela Cruz and Toring, the scoring load will once again fall on the shoulders of Tubu.
Can the former Adamson Lady Falcons standout carry her team to a strong start in the new season?
“Kailangan ko patunayan na deserve ko ‘yung award na ‘yun. Lagi ko rin sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na nung conference na ‘yun dapat ma-continue ko ‘yun,” said Tubu. “Pero hindi naman importante ‘yung individual award sakin, importante talaga is umangat ‘yung ranking and hopefully makapasok sa Final Four.”
[ALSO READ: PVL: Farm Fresh’s Trisha Tubu admits pressure after winning Best Opposite Spiker award in Reinforced Conference
Best-case scenario
Farm Fresh thrives under the veteran leadership of Daquis and Dionela, alongside the further growth of Romero and Tubu.
Come December and January, Dela Cruz and Toring make their debut for the Foxies, further helping the team out in their push for a top-4 seed in the standings.
Lofty goals are set for Farm Fresh but should things work out then it’s not hard to see the team compete for a playoff spot.
Worst-case scenario
Despite key additions, the Foxies remain at the middle of the pack, failing to win against some of the top teams in the league.
Farm Fresh finishes around 8th-9th place in the standings—still the same from the previous conferences.
Bold prediction
Farm Fresh will finish as the 6th seed and will directly secure a quarterfinal slot in the extended All-Filipino Conference format.