Yee tempers expectations
Farm Fresh head coach Jerry Yee is tempering expectations for the retooled Foxies in the coming 2024 Premier Volleyball League unwrapping on 20 February.
The Foxies are still in the process of building their chemistry after bringing in nine new faces and Yee knows that it will take some time for them to jell.
He said shooting for the stars in their second year in the pro ranks would be too much with the All-Filipino Conference just around the corner.
“What we want to see is improvement and progress. Those things and hopefully not end up worse than before. We don’t want to be in the same position as last year,” Yee said.
“Of course, all teams have improved. Everyone’s using their resources to strengthen their respective teams. We have a very young team, our core. We need time to develop.”
The Foxies joined the league last year and made their debut in the mid-season Invitational Conference where they came up winless.
Farm Fresh was able to snap its losing funk in the 2nd All-Filipino Conference but could only list two wins in 11 games to end up in 10th place in the 12-team field.
‘Of course, all teams have improved.’
The Frank Lao-owned franchise overhauled its roster and made a bevy of acquisitions including netting veterans Caitlin Viray from 2nd AFC runner-up Choco Mucho and Jolina Dela Cruz of the disbanded F2 Logistics.
The Foxies also signed seasoned playmaker Anj Legacion, Elaine Kasilag and Chinnie Arroyo from F2 Logistics, Jaycel Delos Reyes, University of Santo Tomas products libero Janel Delerio and outside hitter Ypril Tapia and Letran College’s Julia Angeles.
Farm Fresh also signed 2023 Invitational Conference champion Kurashiki Ablaze head coach Hideo Suzuki as team consultant and Masster Shimizu as trainer to infuse the Japanese style of play in Yee’s system.
“Hopefully we’ll be competitive and of course develop consistency. Hopefully, we could correct our previous mistakes,” Yee said.
“It won’t be easy having new players and we have a new consultant, who is implementing new things to the team. We’re pressed for time but that’s how it is. They say, just trust the process.”