On the move: Farm Fresh meets Capital1, targets solo second

Games today:

(Philsports Arena)

1 p.m. — Galeries Tower vs PLDT

3:30 p.m. — VNS vs AEP-Cabstars

6 p.m. — Capital1 vs Farm Fresh

Surging Farm Fresh tries to boost its semifinals bid when it battles skidding Capital1 in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Season 10 All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series today at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Winning back-to-back five-set thrillers, the Foxies are brimming with confidence as they march back into action in the main game at 6 p.m.

Only three Final Four seats are up for grabs after league-leading undefeated Nxled secured a ticket to the next round and is on the right track to claim a twice-to-beat advantage.

The development has turned the semis race even tighter with just four playdates left in the elimination round.

Farm Fresh wants to take advantage of its momentum to climb to solo second.

The Foxies are currently in fourth place with a 4-2 win-loss record, just a match point behind Choco Mucho (4-3), but can climb up to solo second with a third straight win to overtake defending champion Creamline (4-2).

Endurance and composure under pressure have been Farm Fresh’s weapons in its ascent.

In fact, the Foxies are the iron ladies of the tournament, enduring five straight games that went the full five sets. They won three of the five deciders, including two straight against ZUS Coffee and perennial contender PLDT.

Reigning Season Most Valuable Player Trisha Tubu exploded for 30 points, eight in the fifth set, in Farm Fresh’s 20-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-20, 17-15, win over the High Speed Hitters last Tuesday.

The Foxies are expected to show the same maturity and toughness in hurdling the Solar Spikers, who are aching to get out of a three-game funk.

“Coach (Koji Tsuzurabara) has been telling us during training to trust the process. Even with just one percent of progress every day, it adds up, and it means a lot for us as a team. We’ve seen progress in our past games and that helps us enjoy the game and remain composed even in five setters,” Tubu said.

Capital1, meanwhile, has been in a slump of late after a promising start.

Even with a star-studded lineup led by Bella Belen and former conference Most Valuable Players Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos, the Solar Spikers struggled against traditional contenders PLDT, Creamline and Nxled.

The Solar Spikers are on the brink of elimination with a 2-4 slate in solo seventh.

Meanwhile, the High Speed Hitters battle also-ran Galeries Tower at 1 p.m.

PLDT holds an even 3-3 record in fifth spot and is within striking distance of the top four with just two assignments left.

The Highrisers are coming off a five-set loss to ZUS Coffee last Tuesday for a tie with their tormentors at the bottom with a 1-5 slate.

In the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference, VNS (2-5) takes on AEP-Cabstars (1-5) at 3:30 p.m.