Farm Fresh Holds Off Chery Tiggo, Inches Closer to Coveted Top Seed

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by Cristian Andal

Farm Fresh Foxies
Farm Fresh Foxies. Photo: PVL Images.

Farm Fresh played like a squad with everything on the line, turning back a gritty Chery Tiggo side to stay firmly in the hunt for the No. 1 spot in the PVL Reinforced Conference quarterfinals. 

The Foxies showed the poise of a team built for big moments, surviving a furious late push to secure a tough 25-17, 25-23, 29-27 sweep Thursday at the MOA Arena.

With both teams throwing haymakers early, Farm Fresh relied on its discipline and steady system under coach Alessandro Lodi to slowly clamp down on the Crossovers. The Foxies dictated the pace in the opening set, weathered a mid-frame scare in the second, and leaned on sheer grit in the third when Chery Tiggo threatened to flip the script.

The win pushed Farm Fresh to 7-1 with 21 points, just a hair ahead of ZUS Coffee in the razor-close race for the top spot. Whether the Foxies stay at No. 1 now hinges on the result of the PLDT–Petro Gazz showdown. A PLDT sweep would bump the High Speed Hitters to the top; anything else keeps Farm Fresh in the driver’s seat entering the quarters.

Farm Fresh's Eli Rosseaux spikes the ball against Chery Tiggo defenders
Farm Fresh's Eli Rosseaux spikes the ball against Chery Tiggo defenders. Photo: PVL Images.

Still, the straight-sets win came with its fair share of drama. After building an eight-point cushion in the third frame, Farm Fresh suddenly found itself scrambling as Yuni Batista and the Crossovers mounted a spirited comeback. The Foxies had to fend off three set points before regaining control behind import Eli Rosseaux’s late-set composure.

Chery Tiggo tied the frame multiple times through clutch hits from Ces Molina and Trisha Tubu, but Rosseaux responded each time with her signature calm and timely firepower. The match finally swung Farm Fresh’s way after a long rally that ended with a confirmed floor touch on video challenge, punctuating the Foxies’ grit under pressure.

Setter Alohi Robins-Hardy once again proved her value, steering the offense with 24 excellent sets and adding seven points for good measure.

“We just kept fighting for every point,” she said. “Chery Tiggo pushed us hard. Credit to them.”

Chery Tiggo's Yuni Batista (25) reacts after a play against Farm Fresh
Chery Tiggo's Yuni Batista (25) reacts after a play against Farm Fresh. Photo: PVL Images.

Rosseaux led Farm Fresh with 20 points, while Molina and Tubu chipped in 14 and 13. Lorene Toring added eight.

Batista carried the Crossovers with 28 markers, but Chery Tiggo’s late rally wasn’t enough as they closed their campaign at 2-6.