Farm Fresh Foxies coach Jerry Yee.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Farm Fresh coach Jerry Yee believes the Japanese system suits the physique of Filipino volleyball players.
Yee also hopes the Foxies will translate their training from their recent coaching staff right into a higher 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.
After making its PVL debut last 12 months, Farm Fresh took its preparation to the following level as Yee has been working with consultant Hideo Suzuki of Invitational Conference champion Kurashiki Ablaze and Master Shimizu, the Japanese trainer of the Foxies.
“For me personally, mas malapit yung ganoong system sa physique natin. They play with speed, accuracy. Hindi sila masyadong height or power-reliant. Ibang-iba ang disiplina nila malayong-malayo. Yung transmission yun nga from Japanese coaches to Filipino players mahihirapan pero maganda na nandyan,” Yee told reporters.
“Versus European style na iba naman ang nakasanayan ng European coaches, in my humble opinion lang yun ha. Sa tingin ko mas bagay ang Asian coaches kasi they understand yung Asian physique. Hindi naman tayo lalagpas ng 6-foot-5, 6-foot-4 yung mga players natin,” he added.
The PVL clubs have been embracing the Japanese system as Nxled coach Taka Minowa can be overseeing Akari’s training because the director of volleyball program. Petro Gazz also hired Koji Tsuzurabara as its recent head coach, while mentors Shaq Delos Santos of Cignal, KungFu Reyes of Chery Tiggo and Lerma Giron of Galeries Tower also studied the tactics and discipline during University of Santo Tomas’ training camp in Japan.
True enough, Shimizu is desperate to develop the Foxies, who only had two wins in two conferences last season, as he focuses on the team’s aggressiveness, speed, and instilling a winning mindset.
“Once I began in volleyball and until now, I don’t practice to lose,” the Japanese trainer said. “I teach them to win. I teach them to turn out to be champions. I cannot say second. I need them to turn out to be champions.”
FILE–Farm Fresh Foxies.–PVL PHOTO
Farm Fresh added the veteran presence and experience from Caitlin Viray, Ely Kasilag, Anj Legacion, and Julia Angeles to team up with the young but promising group of Trisha Tubu, Louie Romero, Kate Santiago, Joan Narit, Rizza Cruz, and Pia Ildefonso. The Foxies also landed Jolina Dela Cruz, who remains to be recovering from a right ACL injury.
Yee isn’t yet satisfied with their progress since they are only getting began with the brand new players and Japanese coaches but he hopes to see consistency and resiliency when the league opens in February.
“Mabagal eh, nababagalan ako. Siyempre we now have to adapt, kung ano ang mga bagong itinuturo kailangang i-implement. Di naman pwedeng we proceed from wherever else we left off na parang start sa baba and unti-unti learn and re-learn, so nababagalan ako. Pero ganun talaga eh. Tya-tyagain namin,” Yee said.
(I find our progress slow. In fact we now have to adapt to the brand new teachings. We are able to’t just pick up where we left off and like start at the underside where we re-learn things little by little that’s why I feel it’s been a slow progress for us. But that’s the way it is. We just have to be patient and persevere.)
“Hopefully lumaban, consistency. Hopefully, ma-correct natin yung mga previous mistakes natin. It won’t be easy having recent players and will bago tayong consultant, siyempre may bago siyang i-implement. So medyo pressed for time na kami pero ganun talaga probably they are saying trust the method,” he added.
(Hopefully, we will put up a fight and have consistency. Hopefully, we’re capable of correct our previoous mistakes. It won’t be easy having recent players and a brand new consultant because he has something recent to implement. So we’re a bit pressed for time however it is what it’s, we just should trust the method as they are saying.)
Farm Fresh seeks improvement from its two-win second All-Filipino Conference last 12 months with the Japanese system and recent players to bolster its campaign this 2024 season.
“Bata pa talaga ang team natin, ang core natin, so we’d like time to develop,” Yee said. “Sana higher than last conference yun lang naman yun Yun ang basic goal natin, higher than before, sana may kaunting improvement tayo. On paper mukhang malakas ang reinforcements namin pero hindi naman dahil hindi pa available si Jolina. Let’s see kailangan talagang mag-improve on court nung mga nakapaglaro na last season.”
(Our team, our core remains to be young so we’d like time to develop. I hope we’re higher than last conference. That’s our basic goal which is to be beter than before and have even just just a little little bit of improvement. Our reinforcements look strong on paper but Jolina (Dela Cruz) remains to be not available. Let’s see however the players who played for us last season really want to enhance on court.)
