Louie Romero and the Farm Fresh Foxies remain patient with their injured stars, hopeful to field a complete team for the next PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The wait for their injured stars continues for the Farm Fresh Foxies.
But even as they played without stars Jolina Dela Cruz and Lorene Toring, the Foxies secured their first-ever playoff appearance during the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference.
Coming in as the 8th seed, the Foxies gave it their all as they challenged the undefeated Akari Chargers in the quarterfinals, although ultimately falling short in four sets, 25-17, 18-25, 22-25, 23-25.
According to team captain Louie Romero, Toring, who was watching from the sidelines, was visibly frustrated as she saw her squad fail to pull off the upset.
But she reminded the former Adamson Lady Falcons middle blocker to stay patient as they await her return to the taraflex.
“Sabi ko antayin ka namin kasi 'yun naman talaga 'yung goal namin eh, antayin namin sila makabalik and hopefully maka-laro na talaga sila,” Romero said during the team’s exit interview.
“Sabi ko naman sa kanila na huwag nilang madaliin 'yung process kasi mahirap talaga kapag injury, so kung sino lang muna 'yung nandiyan, sila lang 'yung available, kailangan talagang mag-work hard para sa team,” she added.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Jolina Dela Cruz gives positive update on recovery from ACL injury]
Farm Fresh also saw themselves improve under new head coach Shota Sato, marking the team's best finish since joining the league last year.
“Sabi ko nga sa huddle kanina, sobrang proud ako sa mga kasama ko kasi nakita namin 'yung effort and sacrifice namin talaga nag-bungga,” said Romero.
“Although kinapos talaga kami, may mga times na kinakapos kami pero alam namin na 'yung potential talaga ng bawat isa nakikita namin and thank you din sa system ni coach Sato kasi ang layo na talaga nung inimprove ng Farm Fresh,” she added.
[RELATED STORY: "Lahat po kami nagko-contribute": Louie Romero, Trisha Tubu take pride on Farm Fresh’s team-first approach against Capital1]
With another layer of learning experience added to the young Foxies, Romero and her squad are already looking forward to the All-Filipino Conference, where they hope to improve their performances further.
“Super excited kasi All-Filipino na yan so lahat talaga may eagerness bumalik sa training lalo ngayon ang dami naming natutunan sa game, so madami pa kami ita-training 'yung mga lapses namin and alam namin na mas malayo pa 'yung puwede namin puntahan,” said Romero.