Farm Fresh Foxies finally break Cignal curse, cruise to best-ever start in PVL Reinforced

Farm Fresh is no longer the league’s feisty newcomer — it’s a team that’s learned how to dominate.

Behind a balanced attack and unrelenting drive, the Foxies finally exorcised their long-standing demons against Cignal, sweeping their former teammates and tormentors in straight sets, 25-19, 25-20, 25-16, in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference on Thursday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

For a franchise that had never beaten Cignal in six previous encounters since joining the league in 2023, this one carried more than just statistical weight. It was personal.

Leading the charge was Trisha Tubu, who has evolved from a young gunner into a true franchise cornerstone. The three-time Best Opposite Hitter delivered 21 points on a scorching 59% attack clip, taking over as Belgian import Eli Rousseaux cooled off slightly from her 38-point debut but still managed 17 points and 11 digs.

“It’s about staying consistent,” Tubu said postgame. “We didn’t want to relax just because of our first win. We owed it to ourselves to prove that Farm Fresh can beat the best.”

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FOXIES FIERCE WAY TO 2-0!

: CIGNAL vs. FARM FRESH

Watch the games on:
: One Sports | One Sports+
: Pilipinas Live
: https://t.co/ihdl9Qn3VC#PVL2025 | #TheHeartOfVolleyball pic.twitter.com/oeNSxSvAh0

— Premier Volleyball League (@pvlph) October 16, 2025

It wasn’t just the offense that clicked. Farm Fresh’s chemistry — anchored by several ex-Cignal standouts — allowed them to move as one cohesive unit, dictating tempo and punishing every loose play from their old squad.

Ces Molina and Alohi Robins-Hardy, both former Cignal pillars, thrived in their “revenge game,” combining for 11 points while orchestrating the Foxies’ fluid transitions.

The straight-sets victory not only snapped their six-game drought against the Super Spikers but also propelled them to 2-0, marking the best start in franchise history.

On the other end, Cignal’s night mirrored its struggles from the season’s opening week. Playing without head coach Shaq delos Santos (flu) and top scorer Vanie Gandler (arm injury), the bronze medalists appeared a step slow and lacked their usual firepower. Assistant coach Rico de Guzman filled in on the sidelines, but the gap was too wide to overcome.

Only Greek import Eva Chantava managed double figures with 13 points and seven receptions, while Ishie Lalongisip tried to steady the ship with six markers.

Even a low 13-error total couldn’t save the Super Spikers from falling to 0-2, as Farm Fresh’s relentless aggression dictated the one-hour, 29-minute contest from start to finish.

Head coach Alessandro Lodi, though pleased with the result, acknowledged the absences on the opposing side but still credited his team’s focus.

“We knew it would be a difficult game because Cignal did not perform well last Monday, so we were prepared for their reaction,” Lodi said.

“Already not having Gandler on the court clearly is a big help for us. I would always want the best lineup and all the best players to be on the court. This being said, we can only focus on what we can control and our side of the net — and I think we delivered a strong performance today.”

With a growing sense of belief, Farm Fresh is quickly shedding its label as an up-and-comer and emerging as one of the league’s most dangerous squads. The Foxies will have a chance to go for a 3-0 start — and continue their breakout run — when they return to action next week.

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