EXPECT a spiced-up Farm Fresh side to enter the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference with some foreign flavor.
READ: Who are diamonds in the rough in first-ever PVL Rookie Draft?
Following the exit of veteran mentor Jerry Yee to ZUS Coffee, former Japanese deputy Shota Sato will take over the reins for the Foxies.
“Officially official! Meet our new head coach who will call the shots for the Foxies starting in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference, all the way from Japan, Shota Sato,” the club wrote Saturday afternoon.
“We look forward to see the team continuously learn from you, coach! Let’s do this!”
Sato is no stranger to Philippine volleyball as he was first part of the coaching staff of Japanese guest team Kurashiki which won the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference.
Then-Ablaze head coach Hideo Suzuki went on to join Farm Fresh last December as its team consultant before Sato joined him as one of his deputies.
And it didn't end there, as the Foxies also secured the services of veteran mentor Master Shimizu Mikihiro as well as former best outside hitter Asaka Tamaru, who’ll now be ZUS Coffee’s import for the upcoming Reinforced Conference.
From Asia to Latin America
Adding depth to the young Foxies core, all the way from Colombia, is the league’s second Latina import in 25-year-old outside hitter Yeny Murillo.
“We need more firepower. We need more excellent receptions. We need more stability on-court. We need Murillo!" the club wrote.
“Join the Farm Fresh family in welcoming 6'1 outside hitter all the way from Andalucia, Colombia, Yeny Murillo! Let’s get it!”
In only her fourth year of pro volleyball, Murillo had intercontinental stints in France (Rennes EC and Municipal Olympique Mougins Volley-Ball), Cyprus (Anorthosis Famagusta), Czech Republic (TJ Sokol Frýdek-Místek), and Greece (AO Thiras).
But her volleyball journey began with two collegiate stops in Arizona Western College and Grand Canyon University.
Murillo will take flight for the Foxies on opening day against a Khat Bell-boosted Chery Tiggo side on July 16, 4 p.m. at the Philsports Arena.
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