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Ces Molina plays against Cignal for the first time since her departure.
Now with the Farm Fresh Foxies, Ces Molina faced the Cignal Super Spikers for the first time after her and Riri Meneses’ departure from the team in January.
Molina got the last laugh against Cignal on Thursday, October 16, as she finished with 11 points and six excellent receptions in Farm Fresh’s 25-19, 25-20, 25-16 sweep against the Super Spikers to remain undefeated early into the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
After the game, Molina was quick to downplay added emotional storylines ahead of the game, stressing that she only played her role as a supporting gunner to import Eli Rousseaux and star opposite Trisha Tubu.
“‘Yung role ko talaga ginawa ko lang today kasi si Eli [Rousseaux] and [Trisha] Tubu ang mga main attacker talaga namin so nag-contribute lang ako na makatulong sa kanila in terms of passing and syempre kung mabigyan ako ni Alohi ng bola, ‘yun, talagang aatake ako,” Molina, who signed with Farm Fresh last July, said.
“We all know naman na si Cignal is fighter, so gaya ng sabi ni coach, pinaghandaan namin na nung natalo sila last game, alam namin na babawi sila this game, so hindi talaga kami e-easy easy today.”
Meneses was part of two runner-up finishes during her time with Cignal, which was coupled with four bronze medals within three years. The former captain also snagged one conference Most Valuable Player nod, as well as a pair of Best Outside Hitter awards while playing for her old team.
As part of the Foxies, Molina says that her firsthand knowledge of Cignal’s culture was helpful in preparing for the early conference matchup.
“Well, ‘yun nga, sinabi ko na galing ako sa Cignal before and alam ko talaga ‘yung culture nila doon na lalaban sila and I know that Coach Shaq [delos Santos] will prepare them also para sa mga next games nila,” Molina reflected.
“Today, talagang nag-prepare lang ako for this game na hindi maging stiff at hindi ko pinressure ‘yung sarili ko whatever it is. Pero ayun, ginampanan ko lang kung ano ‘yung role ko today sa team.”
Happy family
Now that she’s gotten the monkey off her back, Ces Molina will now continue to help the Foxies make some noise in this year’s Reinforced Conference. Early on, the veteran spiker has lauded the culture of hunger and grit they are building within the new-look team.
“Well, masasabi namin [with Meneses] siguro na happy family, and ‘yung happiness is nandito sa Farm Fresh, and nakita talaga namin na lahat gustong matuto and knowledgeable talaga,” she told The GAME in a separate interview.
“Para sa amin, very welcoming din ‘yung Farm Fresh samin and masaya kami na nasa [new] team kami ngayon. New learning syempre under Coach Lodi and ‘yun, we’re excited na para samin.”
With Farm Fresh holding a 2-0 record as of writing, Molina remains committed to playing whatever role she is given by her coaching staff.
“Well ‘yung pinaka-goal muna namin ngayon is makapanalo nang mas maraming games at mabigay ‘yung best namin at maka-contribute.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.