Molina makes triumphant PVL return after 10-month hiatus
Ces Molina made her long-awaited return to the Premier Volleyball League on Thursday, donning the Farm Fresh jersey after a 10-month hiatus.
In her Foxies debut, Molina chipped in nine points and played a stabilizing role behind import Eli Rousseaux’s scorching 38-point outing, powering Farm Fresh past the Nxled Chameleons, 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-21, in the Reinforced Conference Pool A opener at Dasmariñas Arena.
It was a bittersweet comeback for the former league MVP, who admitted to battling nerves as she eased her way into coach Alessandro Lodi’s system and rekindled on-court chemistry with new teammates.
“To be honest, I was really nervous earlier since this was my first official PVL game again,” Molina said in Filipino. “But I was also super happy to be back on the court—especially with veterans like Alohi [Robins-Hardy] and Eli beside me. They’re both really experienced players, so I’m just grateful I get to learn a lot from them that I can carry into future games.”
Molina parted ways with Cignal at the end of 2024 and sat out the All-Filipino Conference. She, along with Ria Meneses, officially signed with Farm Fresh in July—marking a fresh chapter in her volleyball journey after months of uncertainty.
“I was really sad before,” she admitted. “As a player, as an athlete, volleyball is life. The passion and love for the sport is always there, so when it’s suddenly taken away from you, it really hurts. But now that I’m back, it feels so good. I just hope I can give my best and get back into top shape.”
Her return couldn’t have come with more emotional stakes. Next week, she will face her former team Cignal at Smart Araneta Coliseum—a matchup likely to stir deep feelings on both sides.
“I don’t have to be stiff or feel pressured. I’ll just take it as a challenge,” she said. “Volleyball—and life—it doesn’t revolve around just one thing. I’m here now with a new home and a new team, so we’ll see what I can bring to our next game. I know both sides will prepare well.”
Molina, now 30, is embracing a leadership role with the young and promising Foxies, determined to be a vocal presence on and off the court.
“My role now is to bring the strength and experiences I had with my previous team, the lessons from my old coach and teammates. I’ve carried that with me here,” she said. “Who I am now is a result of everything I learned from them. I think leadership is one of the key things I can offer.”
“I’m probably the most vocal one on the team,” Molina added with a laugh. “Most of the players are pretty quiet. They just go out there and play. So maybe that’s something I can help with: providing leadership and guiding them however I can.”
