Farm Fresh Setter Alohi Robins-Hardy Orchestrates a play during a PVL previous season match against PLDT. – PVL -Photo
Manila, Filippin-Alohi Robins-Hardy had a “bittersweet” long-awaited debut after the new era of Farm Fresh received a baptismal fire from PLDT in the PVL on tour.
Robins-Hardy finally played her first game for the Foxies after a year of waiting, but fell on PLDT, 18-25, 21-25, 26-28, to start their Pool a campaign on Tuesday in Filoil Ecooil Center in San Juan City.
Read: pvl: relief for Alohi Robins-Hardy if she can finally play
Alohi Robins-Hardy on her PVL debut for Farm Fresh.#Pvlontour #Pvl2025 @Inquirersports pic.twitter.com/9slwtfbgwe
– Lance Agcaoili (@lanceagcaoilinq) July 1, 2025
“It is bittersweet. First game there is, finally my work can be seen. And also for our team. I am proud of our girls. We are really trusting the process. It has honestly has been a relief. It has been way too long,” said Robins-Hardy, who was supposed to be considered not to be eligible by the PVL last year as directly Hire Fresh.
“Finally standing on the field. Coaching is sometimes bad. From outside you want to come in there, especially for me, because I am still able to play. Last year was difficult, but it’s great, to be honest. It’s great.”
Robins-Hardy scored a block and a 1-2 game to send the Foxies to Point, 26-25, but Mika Reyes came to the rescue with the equal fast attack and the playing block.
The Filipino-American Setter, who last played in the country with Cignal in the defeated Filipino Superliga, is happy to have spent her way to her best form after a year as an assistant coach for Farm Fresh.
Read: PVL warns Alohi Robins-Hardy above bar-all-posture
“I am not super satisfied, but I know I can play. I can go well. And I think that is accompanied by my experience. So I think coaching really helps in his system. I think we are streaming pretty well. It will always have done work, so it is a good thing,” Robins-Hardy said.
“It’s great. I mean, it was clearly a while ago. The last time I actually played in a game was back in 2019, 2020, I think. And it feels good. I mean, there were many fans. Of course it doesn’t feel good for our game, but it feels good. The fan base is always super supporting, always loud, so it’s fun.”
Despite losing their first game, the 6-foot-3 game maker enjoyed playing with Louie Romero and Young Guns Trisha Tubu, Jolina Dela Cruz and Rizza Cruz.
“Last year I was also able to train with them. And they have taken a long way since last year, even a few months ago. I am excited to see how they progress even more. They will help us win games,” she said.
Read: PVL: Alohi Robins-Hardy does not play if it is not prepared by Farm Fresh
“I know that everyone is still filthy. I was on the sidelines and said, so it’s nice to see the same players on the other side. And it’s just the same scrappy game. But yes, I mean, there are also younger players, so they hit hard, they jump high.”
Robins-Hardy tries to help win Fresh’s upcoming matches in Ilagan City against Choco Mucho and Petro Gazz on 12 and 13 July respectively.
“Of course we want to win. That is the big goal. But at the moment I think we should just trust the process, trust the coach and help translate what coach wants for the team, because I know that there is sometimes a language barrier,” said Robins-Hardy.
Your subscription cannot be saved. Try it again.
Your subscription has been successful.
“So I think that is probably the biggest thing for me, helping to translate what coach wants. Like, you know, my teammates push to be better every day, as well as myself.”
The game was also the Italian coach Alessandro Lodi’s debut with the Foxies.
#PVL #Alohi #RobinsHardy #Bittersweet #Farm #Fresh #Debut