The Farm Fresh Foxies came back to beat the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, 25-21, 16-25, 21-25, 25-19, 15-10, in the 2026–27 PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Farm Fresh carried its fourth-set momentum into the decider. Royse Tubino powered the Foxies to 8 of the first 11 points. After a long rally, Jovelyn Gonzaga cut the deficit to four, 6-10, for ZUS Coffee.
The Foxies answered with four straight points, capped by Riri Meneses’ block on Riza Nogales, to reach match point at 14-6. The Thunderbelles then won the next four points, the last on an AC Miner attack, prompting head coach Koji Tsuzurabara to call a timeout. A few rallies later, Ces Molina’s attack was ruled out, but Farm Fresh challenged. The replay showed the ball landed just inside the baseline, ending the match.
“We have to shake things up kasi alam na alam na ng ZUS kung paano kami gumalaw, kung paano kami umatake. Lahat, nakaabang na sila. Wala silang takot, so ganoon din, lalabanan natin hanggang dulo,” said Farm Fresh assistant coach Benson Bocboc.
“Kaya kahit sabihin nating lamang tayo ng 10-6, 11-6, ganyan, hindi talaga natin masasabi. Mainit talaga bawat isang puntos every time na nag-su-sub sila to change that. We need to stop all those chances sa kanila para makuha natin yung puntos. Kung hindi, puwede nilang baliktarin talaga yung result,” he added.
Tubino led the Foxies with 20 points, all on attacks. Molina added 18 points on 13 attacks and 5 blocks, along with 17 excellent receptions and 12 excellent digs, while Trisha Tubu scored 17.
Alohi Robins-Hardy distributed 15 excellent sets.
For the Thunderbelles, Miner had a game-high 21 points on 18 attacks and 3 blocks. Jolina Dela Cruz and Zam Nolasco added 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Farm Fresh will next face the PLDT High Speed Hitters on Tuesday, November 10, at 1:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Later that day at 6:00 p.m., ZUS Coffee will try to bounce back against the Galeries Tower Highrisers.
PLDT Hands Creamline First Loss
Later that day, PLDT beat the Creamline Cool Smashers, 25-19, 25-27, 25-23, 25-23.
PLDT led 15-9 in the fourth set, and two quick attacks by Dell Palomata later pushed the lead to 23-19. Creamline fought back. After a service error by Alleiah Malaluan, Bernadeth Pons blocked Malaluan to pull the Cool Smashers within two, 21-23.
Savi Davison hit through the Creamline block to give PLDT match point at 24-21. Jeanette Panaga answered with a quick attack, and Bea De Leon blocked Davison to make it 23-24. On the next rally, Mika Reyes got her hands on a hard Pons attack. The ball dropped just inside Creamline’s court after Jia De Guzman, chasing it, let it go, thinking it was out. Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses challenged for a net touch, but the replay confirmed the point, ending the match.
“I think, you know, we have to be aware that we might drop a set to Creamline because they’re a very strong team. You know, how can we stay close in score? How can we, you know, bawi agad? Like I said, always going up against Creamline is going to be a tough match,” said Davison.
Davison led the High Speed Hitters with a match-high 22 points, along with 19 excellent receptions and 8 excellent digs. Palomata, named Player of the Game, added 13 points, while Malaluan scored 10.
Kim Fajardo distributed 17 excellent sets, and libero Kath Arado anchored the floor defense with 14 excellent digs.
For the Cool Smashers, Pons had 14 points and 10 excellent digs, while De Leon added 11 on 9 attacks and 2 kill blocks.
PLDT will next face Farm Fresh on Tuesday, November 10, at 1:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Meanwhile, Creamline will try to bounce back against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans on Thursday, November 12, at 6:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
