Dela Cruz’s Return Bolsters Farm Fresh’s Huge Win vs NXLED

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Jolina Dela Cruz’s return was just in time for the Farm Fresh Foxies after finally making her professional debut coming off a torn ACL injury.

Despite playing her first game back from a long hiatus, the former UAAP champion with the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers performed like a veteran and steered Farm Fresh to a sweeping win over the NXLED Chameleons, 25-22, 26-24, 25-21, in the ongoing Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on January 18, 2025, at the Philsports Arena.

Dela Cruz was efficient in her first PVL game donning the Farm Fresh jersey and top-scored the Foxies with an impressive 20-point performance.

The hardworking outside hitter didn’t need any warmups as the coaching staff immediately inserted her into the starting lineup and delivered the much-needed impact that the squad needed from her.

Dela Cruz started slow after the NXLED middle blockers found success in swatting away her early attempts but the rising star quickly adjusted and heated up just when the opening set started to fold.

To further boost her confidence, the Foxies continued to feed her the ball and executed several cross-court offensive plays that piled up her scoring numbers.

However, it was in the third and final set where Dela Cruz converted the most important points when the Chameleons attempted to storm back into the game.

Only up by a point, 17-16, the Foxies leaned on Dela Cruz’s clutch hits as the debutant unleashed five points in that stretch out of Farm Fresh’s final eight points.

Dela Cruz kicked off her personal scoring frenzy with a drop ball on the right side, followed by back-to-back cross-court spikes that electrified the Farm Fresh bench.

The savvy offensive star capped off her performance with an off-the-block kill and a looping placement point at the backline.

Backstopping Dela Cruz’s solid outing was Trisha Tubu, who chipped in 14 markers built from 12 successful attacks while Alyssa Bertolano added eight markers.

Farm Fresh will look to sustain their momentum on January 25, 2025, against the Chery Tiggo Crossovers while the Chameleons will seek to bounce back on January 23, 2025, against the Akari Chargers.

CHOCO MUCHO STUNS THUNDERBELLES

Choco Mucho Flying Titans pulled off a sensational reverse sweep against ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, securing a 20-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-9 victory in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference preliminaries at Philsports Arena on Saturday.

Sisi Rondina delivered a stellar performance, racking up 25 points and nine excellent receptions to lead the Flying Titans to a solo fifth-place finish with a 4-3 record. Dindin Manabat complemented Rondina’s efforts with a vintage 19-point outing, including key hits in the final two sets.

“It’s a great way to start the year with a win,” said setter Deena Wong, who orchestrated the offense with 10 excellent sets and added seven points, including four crafty 1-2 plays. “Hopefully, we can keep this up.”

The two-hour, seven-minute thriller marked Choco Mucho’s second consecutive five-set victory. Their resilience was on full display after a December win against Farm Fresh, where they rebounded from a blown 2-0 lead.

Rondina’s relentless attack was backed by Isa Molde, who contributed 13 points and 11 digs, and Lorraine Pecana, who tallied 11 markers. A crucial quick attack by Pecana in the fifth frame further shifted momentum in Choco Mucho’s favor.

Despite dominating the first two sets with aggressive offense and tight defense, the Thunderbelles faltered under the Flying Titans’ relentless comeback. Chai Troncoso shone with 17 points, while Gayle Pascual added 15. Thea Gagate and Michelle Gamit chipped in with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

“Our defense and blocking improved in the third set, and we executed our plays as planned,” said coach Dante Alinsunurin. “Hopefully, we can sustain this level of play.”

Rondina highlighted the team’s grit and improvement during the game. “Masaya kami kasi sa mga ensayo aming, lumalabas ang mga resulta sa laro,” she said. “Itutuloy aming ang ganitong laro, pero siyempre, kailangan pa rin magtrabaho nang husto.”

The Flying Titans narrowly outscored the Thunderbelles 68-65, with both teams posting 10 block points. However, Choco Mucho capitalized on service reception errors, delivering five aces while conceding just one.

A pivotal seven-point run led by Rondina in the fifth set sealed the victory, leaving the Thunderbelles stunned and searching for answers after their strong start unraveled.

The loss underscored the Thunderbelles’ need for consistency in high-pressure situations, as they failed to match the poise of their experienced opponents when it mattered most.

PLDT DOMINATES AKARI

PLDT High Speed Hitters asserted their dominance with a resounding 25-22, 25-16, 25-15 win over Akari Chargers in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference preliminaries on Saturday at Philsports Arena.

The victory not only improved PLDT’s record to 4-2, tying them with Chery Tiggo at fourth, but also served as redemption for their controversial five-set loss to Akari in the Reinforced Conference last year.

Savi Davison bounced back from a slow start to lead PLDT with 15 points, including two kill blocks and six excellent receptions. Her standout performance in the second and third sets turned the match into a one-sided affair.

Majoy Baron sealed the victory with a deft left-hand power tip after an earlier quick attack that gave PLDT an 18-8 lead in the final set. She finished with 11 points on a 61.11 percent attack efficiency, earning Player of the Game honors.

“I feel happy and enjoyed the game the whole time,” Baron said. “We came in prepared since this was the first game of the year, and we stuck to our game plan.”

Setter Angge Alcantara delivered 12 of PLDT’s 13 excellent sets and added four points, orchestrating the offense with precision. Erika Santos contributed 10 points, while Dell Palomata and Fiola Ceballos added seven and five points, respectively.

The High Speed Hitters displayed their firepower throughout the match, outscoring Akari in attacks (45-27) and blocks (9-3). Their dominance at the net and efficient execution left little room for the Chargers to recover.

Akari struggled without star player Grethcel Soltones, who was sidelined with a minor knee injury. Faith Nisperos paced the team with 11 points, but Ivy Lacsina was limited to just six markers. Erika Raagas and Ezra Madrigal combined for nine points.

Libero Justine Jazareno made her return to the court for Akari after a leave of absence due to pregnancy. She recorded 10 excellent digs but could not counterbalance PLDT’s unrelenting offense.

Akari’s brief rally at 14-22 in the final set was snuffed out by consecutive hits from Santos and Kiesha Bedonia, paving the way for Baron to clinch the match in just one hour and 27 minutes.

With a solid win to kick off the new year, PLDT looks poised to continue their strong campaign, while Akari faces an uphill battle as they aim to regain their footing in the competitive tournament.