Head coach Alessandro Lodi attributed Farm Fresh’s transformation into a Reinforced Conference contender to six months of collective hard work and commitment from the entire team.
Farm Fresh’s rise to PVL contender status didn’t just happen overnight.
In fact, head coach Alessandro Lodi knows it’s the product of months of quiet, disciplined work from every member of the team, not just the stars on the court.
With their four-set victory over Petro Gazz on Tuesday, the Foxies clinched their third playoff appearance in two years as a franchise, improving to 5-1 in the ongoing 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
Reflecting on the team’s journey, Lodi said the difference between the Foxies now and just a few months ago is “day and night.”
“It’s terrific, it’s day and night,” Lodi shared.
“What most people see, of course, are the seven or eight players that play the most. But we have a roster of 17, and everybody really works very hard. You cannot have a good product on the floor if you don’t practice with more than seven people.”
A six-month rebuild fuels rise
The Italian tactician emphasized that the improvement didn’t come because of one major change, but from a complete transformation.
“Generally speaking, the growth has been immense,” Lodi continued. “Even just comparing to one month before the conference — that surprised even me. It’s the culmination of six months of work, of struggle, of ups and downs.”
“The change for us has been more close to a revolution than to a change,” he added.
[ALSO READ: PVL: How high-spirited Alessandro Lodi became the right coach for Trisha Tubu, Farm Fresh]
The work never stops for the Foxies
While Belgian import Helene Rousseaux’s arrival brought experience and scoring power, Lodi was quick to note that Farm Fresh’s leap was the result of a collective effort that began long before the Reinforced Conference started.
Farm Fresh in action during the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference. | Photo: PVL
“We knew we were putting in the work and investing what was necessary to hit the big jackpot at the end,” he said. “If you only watched us once in a while, you might think, ‘what’s going on?’ But it’s the normal ups and downs in those phases of growth.”
Still, Lodi was quick to turn the page, embodying the same mindset that has carried the Foxies this far.
“Today is over. We’re on to Galeries Tower on Saturday,” he concluded. “Next game, next challenge, and we move on.”
—
Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.