FARM Fresh has developed quite a taste for marathon matches – and on Tuesday, the Foxies once again showed they're a team that won't easily fold.
Farm Fresh weathered a pair of three-point deficits in the deciding set then outlasted a gritty PLDT in an extended fifth-set showdown, 20-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-20, 17-15, in the PVL All Filipino Conference Siklab Series at the Araneta Coliseum.
Trisha Tubu unleashed a 30-point explosion, almost single-handedly powering the Foxies through the tense finish with five of the team's final eight points.
Tubu saves the day
But while Royse Tubino delivered the off-the-block hit that finally sealed the victory after two hours and 19 minutes, it was Tubu's sheer power, impeccable timing and nerves of steel that illuminated the thrilling finish.
The victory was particularly satisfying for Farm Fresh, which not only improved to 4-2 but also snapped its alternating loss-win-loss-win pattern in its recent five-set encounters, underscoring its growing resilience in the most demanding of matches.
The victory also halted PLDT's three-game winning streak following back-to-back setbacks, dropping the High Speed Hitters to a fifth-place tie with the Akari Chargers at 3-3.
Tubu's 30-point outburst, highlighted by an impressive 56-percent attack efficiency, earned her Best Player of the Game honors. Yet, true to her team-first approach, the explosive hitter was quick to downplay her individual achievement and credited the collective effort that carried Farm Fresh through the grueling encounter.
Tubino finished with 14 points, while Mylene Rezanova and Ces Molina chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Roselyn Aquino and Rizza Cruz added seven and six points as Farm Fresh outscored PLDT in attacks, 70-65, and blocks, 10-9.
Alohi Robins-Hardy also orchestrated the offense with 23 excellent sets, upstaging counterpart Kim Fajardo, who tallied 19. Tubu likewise contributed nine excellent digs and Tubino added 13 receptions, while Maicah Larroza anchored the defensive effort with 13 digs and 21 excellent receptions.
Savi Davison paced PLDT with 23 points, while Jovie Prado and Kim Dy added 13 and 10 markers, respectively. Palomata chipped in nine points.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
