ALOHI Robins-Hardy’s long and winding road to the PVL finally came full circle with a breakthrough moment for Farm Fresh.
Nearly two years since being kept on the sidelines by eligibility issues that delayed her supposed free agency entry following a four-year hiatus, the Fil-Hawaiian playmaker is now at the heart of Foxies’ history.
Robins-Hardy, who even took on a player-coach role for Farm Fresh in her extended wait, was eventually forced into the 2025 PVL Draft, where she was selected third overall by Farm Fresh.
READ: Farm Fresh books maiden PVL semis appearance by sweeping Nxled
From there, everything changed.
A rookie on paper but a veteran in presence, the 30-year-old setter anchored the Foxies’ rise to their first-ever PVL semifinals appearance in just their third year as a franchise after a sweep of Nxled in the play-ins on Tuesday.
For Robins-Hardy, who had 16 excellent sets and five points in the historic win, the moment was hard to put into words.
“The feeling is surreal, especially coming from being a coach, a player coach for this team in my first, not-really season in 2024,” Robins-Hardy said.
“Seeing them improve since that first day has been amazing. It’s just surreal and I can't believe it.”
It was a fitting payoff for someone who has long been familiar with winning in Philippine volleyball.
A former national team mainstay and a two-time medalist in the now-defunct Philippine Superliga, Robins-Hardy brought with her not just experience but a culture of accountability and belief to a young Farm Fresh squad.
And through the ups and downs of the conference, she never wavered in that belief.
“I knew they could do it. They've grown as players and as women, so just super, super proud,” she said.
“With all the younger players, taking our advice as veterans, as ‘ates,’ I think they've really acknoweldged our leadership, and I hope they take that wherever they go. I hope we can keep pushing”
Now, with a historic semifinal berth secured, Robins-Hardy has taken Farm Fresh a step closer to something even bigger.
From a delayed debut to leading a breakthrough, her journey has come full circle and the Foxies are only just getting started with a maiden podium as their next target.
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