RISING WITH RACHEL
For Rachel Anne Daquis, volleyball will always be a test of resilience.
A former Cignal stalwart and a mainstay in Philippine volleyball, Daquis had stepped away from the sport, her career seemingly winding down. But this season, in an unexpected twist, she found herself back on the court, donning the bright orange of Farm Fresh, a young team eager to find its place in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
The Foxies have shown steady progress since its PVL debut. But this season has been different. With key roster additions—including the veteran Daquis and a promising crop of talent—the team has pulled off its best performance yet, finishing the preliminary round with a 5-6 record in the All-Filipino Conference.
And Daquis? She couldn’t have picked a better moment to remind everyone why she was once one of the country’s most feared hitters.
Dramatic comeback
“The reason why I am here is to help them rise, not to sink,” Daquis said, her words carrying the weight of experience. On Tuesday night, in just her fourth game back, she delivered a performance that could only be described as vintage.
With 19 points to her name, Daquis led four other Foxies in double digits as they clawed back from the brink of elimination, defeating Capital1 in a dramatic five-set comeback, 18-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-12. The win bolstered their position heading into the knockout qualifying round.
“I was eager to help until I got my game back,” Daquis admitted. “I didn’t give up on myself for my team. And my team didn’t give up on me either—they fought for me. This was our most crucial win.”
Her return, however, wasn’t just about individual numbers. It was about proving she still had something left in the tank, that her experience and leadership could be the missing piece to elevate Farm Fresh from a developing squad to a legitimate contender.
Plagued by injuries
The Foxies’ rise hasn’t been without obstacles. Injuries have plagued their lineup, with Jolina Dela Cruz recently returning from a layoff but sitting out their latest match. Trisha Tubu, another key offensive piece, was also sidelined due to back spasms. But Farm Fresh’s depth has proven valuable, with Caitlin Viray stepping up in crucial moments.
Head coach Benson Bocboc sees the pieces finally falling into place.
“It is only now that we are slowly becoming complete,” Bocboc said. “Possibly in the first stage of the qualifying round, we will finally be at full strength. And once we are, I think we will look very different as a team.”
With Farm Fresh sitting at No. 6 in the standings, tied with Akari but ahead due to a better set ratio, their fate still hangs in the balance. Chery Tiggo and ZUS Coffee remain potential threats to their position. But for Daquis, the Foxies’ journey isn’t just about standings—it’s about proving their growth, one step at a time.
Searching for identity
Daquis is no stranger to challenges, nor to comebacks. But this one, she says, is different.
“This is a good start heading into the qualifying round,” she said. “We won today, but we won’t stop here. We are just on our way to becoming solid.”
In a league filled with powerhouse teams and established stars, Farm Fresh is still finding its identity. But in Rachel Anne Daquis, they have a leader who has been through it all—and who knows that sometimes, the most meaningful victories are not just about talent, but about the fight that never fades.
“We’re rising one step at a time,” Daquis said. “Our character got tested today, and that’s what we need to build. The talent is already there. Now, we just have to fight until the end.”
