Alohi thinks Foxies will ‘be okay’ playing in first semis
Being honored is putting lightly how Alohi Robins-Hardy feels to be part of Farm Fresh’s journey to a breakthrough semifinals appearance in the Premier Volleyball League, considering the roller-coaster ride she’s had even before playing her first full year in the league.
Selected by the Foxies as the No. 3 overall pick in the last Draft, Robins-Hardy first became part of the coaching staff in 2024 after the bid to hire her directly hit a snag as the league had already implemented the first rookie proceedings in the same year.
That’s why the 6-foot-3 Filipino American setter, who dished out 16 excellent sets and scored five points in Farm Fresh’s 25-17, 25-20, 25-19 sweep of Nxled in a knockout Play-In game of the 2026 All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at Filoil Centre in San Juan City, is also very proud seeing her teammates grow “as players and women.”
“The feeling is surreal. Especially coming from being a coach, a player-coach for this team in 2024,” she said. “So seeing them improve since that first day has been amazing and I can’t believe it.
“I knew they could do it and they’ve grown as players and as women,” said Robins-Hardy.
“I’m just super, super proud. All the younger players, you know, taking our advice as veterans as the ates (elder sisters),” she continued. “I think they’ve really embellished our leadership and I hope they take that wherever they go. And I hope we can keep pushing.”
In last year’s Reinforced Conference, the Foxies had a historic elimination round with the best record, only to be knocked out by No.8 Akari in the quarterfinals.
Under former Petro Gazz champion coach Koji Tsuzurabara, the Foxies had ups and downs in the preliminary round and were even sent to the knockout Play-In after losing to PLDT in the qualifying match. But they never gave up on their semis dream and dethroned the core of the Angels, who now represent Nxled.
Heartbreak-hardened crew
Robins-Hardy believes that it’s their journey from different coaches and past heartbreaks that finally brought them to an elusive Final Four spot since the franchise joined the league in 2023.
“It’s hard, it’s frustrating, new systems every single conference,” said the cousin of retired PBA and Gilas star Gabe Norwood. “I’m proud of the girls. I’m proud of them for working hard and for coming out with the win.
“So, credit goes to them for trusting in me, trusting in coach, trusting in everybody else. Trusting in each other,” Robins-Hardy said. “So, I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Tsuzurabara praised Robins-Hardy for her “good toss work and leadership” that has helped maximize the talents of Trisha Tubu, Ces Molina, Ara Galang, Royse Tubino, Ria Meneses and Rizza Cruz.
Entering the semis for the first time, the decorated rookie braces for an all-out war, as Farm Fresh kicks off the round against Cignal on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena before facing PLDT and Creamline.
“I think being mentally ready and physically ready, but also just, I think coming out the same way we did today,” Robins-Hardy said when asked about how they will approach the semis.
“Balls to the walls, like, literally go for everything. Positive energy. Chemistry on the court and I think we’ll be okay,” she said.
