KOJI Tsuzurabara stood at the center of Farm Fresh’s biggest breakthrough, yet stayed true to his humble and soft-spoken self.
In just his first conference calling the shots, the 61-year-old Japanese mentor steered the Foxies to a historic PVL semifinals debut, knocking out Nxled in the play-ins in the process.
There was, however, an added layer to the win.
READ: Farm Fresh books maiden PVL semis appearance by sweeping Nxled
Across the net stood a team bannered by a majority of the same Petro Gazz champion core he once coached and won a title with in last year’s All-Filipino Conference, making the clincher as poetic as it was decisive.
Did that familiarity give Farm Fresh an edge?
“No comment," Tsuzurabara said.
What mattered more for Tsuzurabara was what his new team had become in such short a time.
“This is everyone’s first time. No [prior] experience. I don't know [what happens] next but again, always, we are challengers,” he said.
“We must make new history for Farm Fresh.”
That challenger mentality he’s long carried even from his Petro Gazz days has been the foundation of his rebuild with a three-year-old Farm Fresh side.
Taking over a team that young and inexperienced, Tsuzurabara emphasized a shift in collective belief as much as execution.
“We always tell them to change their mind, change their heart. Literally, step by step, they have changed their mind. So it's up to them to make it a good game today,” he said.
It paid off when it mattered most, with the Foxies delivering under pressure to secure the franchise’s first Final Four berth in three years.
For Tsuzurabara, the approach was as simple as can be.
“We just do our best and play our best game.”
No noise, no distractions, just results as Farm Fresh steps into uncharted territory in the single round-robin semis for the first time with PLDT, Cignal and either Creamline or Akari starting Saturday.
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