FARM Fresh launched its 2026 PVL Invitational campaign with a 25-14, 25-15, 26-28, 25-20 victory over Ho Chi Minh City on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, one where the Vietnamese guest team showed glimpses of why it cannot be taken lightly.
The Foxies looked in complete control through the first two sets, with their mix of seasoned veterans and young guns overwhelming Ho Chi Minh from the opening serve.
But the match took a sharp turn in the third set. Ho Chi Minh erased three Farm Fresh match points and held its nerve in a back-and-forth finish to steal the frame, 28-26, signaling that it would not be a walkover in the tournament.
Farm Fresh delivered a ruthless response in the fourth, restoring control and building a lead of as many as nine points to leave little room for late drama.
"Today game was a fantastic game. I appreciate Ho Chi Minh team. I saw this Ho Chi Minh team, last month, when we had participated in the Taiwan [tournament]. It's a good system. This system, Philippine volleyball must learn this system," said Foxies head coach Koji Tsuzurabara.
Tsuzurabara and the rest of the Foxies had also gotten an early look at the Vietnamese side during their silver-medal run in the 2026 Formosa Women’s Volleyball Invitational, although the two teams landed in opposite pools and never faced each other.
Four Farm Fresh players scored in double figures, led by Trisha Tubu’s 25 points and six digs, with captain Louie Romero orchestrated the balanced attack with 24 excellent sets and two digs.
Rookie Jonna Perdido also announced her arrival with a breakout double-double of 17 points and 16 receptions, while Ces Molina and Riri Meneses added 12 points apiece, with the latter adding eight receptions.
The Foxies now turn to another foreign test against Thailand’s EST Cola on Tuesday, while Ho Chi Minh gets another shot at a Philippine powerhouse when it takes on Creamline.
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