Ivy Lacsina played her new role to the hilt and F2 Logistics used its deep bench to scuttle newcomer but a game Farm Fresh side, 25-22, 25-20, 25-23, and set its motion its campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Tuesday.
From her previous task in the middle, Lacsina went full blast in the Open wing, firing away 12 attack points, including a set-clinching kill in the opening set, while seasoned middle blocker Aby Maraño and Kim Dy added 10 and nine points, respectively, to anchor their one-hour and 22-minute romp in Group B play.
“It wasn’t easy (switching from the middle to an Open spiker) but I kept on going. With the help of my coaches and teammates, I have learned to embrace my new position,” said Lacsina in Filipino.
But the win didn’t come easy, particularly in trying to close out their rivals in the third frame as the Foxies, behind Jhasmin Pascual and Zamantha Nolasco, fought back and forced the Cargo Movers to four deadlocks, the last at 23 on a Nolasco ace that had looked like a long serve.
But Maraño shattered the count with a hit after the Foxies foiled Jolina dela Cruz’s attempt before the latter, one of F2 Logistics’ three rookies, blasted in an ace to an unguarded spot in the middle of Farm Fresh’s defense.
Dela Cruz finished with seven points, the same output put in by Majoy Baron while Marionne Alba marked her pro debut with five points while starting out as the team’s playmaker.
“We’re happy to win but we still have to learn more, we have to make better connections with each other, especially with Marionne as our setter,” said F2 coach Regine Diego, who had the luxury of shuffling and mixing her veterans with her prized rookies during the entire encounter ushering in the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
Alba produced 14 of the team’s 18 excellent sets while sneaking in solid attacking points.
“I’m overwhelmed and so happy to win my first game (in the pros),” said Alba, who took over the role normally reserved for veteran and multi-titled setter Kim Fajardo. “Nakaka-boost talaga ng confidence.”
“I knew her (Alba) and I trust here and Kim (Fajardo) is there to support her,” said Diego.
Pascual topscored for Farm Fresh with 10 points while Wielyn Estoque finished with eight markers and Kate Santiago and Nolasco added seven and six points, respectively, for the Foxies, who showed a lot promise with their will power, quickness and superb blocking.
One of the three newcomers – the two others being Gerflor and Foton – in the league backed by BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, Mikasa, SMART, Rebisco, Kumu, Asics and SportRadar, Farm Fresh expects to come up with the necessary adjustments when they set out against the tall Choco Mucho Flying Titans tomorrow.
Games Wednesday
1:30 p.m. – Creamline vs Gerflor
4 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs Farm Fresh
6:30 p.m. – Petro Gazz vs Foton