Ces Molina takes some time to reflect on her journey with the Farm Fresh Foxies.
Ces Molina’s path back to volleyball was far from easy.
Along with Riri Meneses, Molina parted ways with the Cignal Super Spikers last January, ending a fruitful partnership that produced seven podium finishes across a three-year span. However, what seemed to be an amicable parting of ways soon garnered controversy, with Cignal even threatening legal action over an alleged material breach of contract.
‘RiCes’ eventually made their way to the Farm Fresh Foxies in July, before making their debut in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference. And while the road back to the sport was tough, Molina acknowledged how it left her with a valuable lesson she continues to apply in her fresh start.
“It’s all about mental toughness talaga. Kasi kung ‘yung passion mo biglang nawala at hindi mo na siya magawa, sobrang hirap nun. Pero kalaban mo talaga is mental and kailangan talaga i-balik ‘yung [passion] and i-motivate mo ‘yung sarili mo,” Molina told The GAME in a recent exclusive interview.
“And with the help of management namin ngayon, my family, ‘yung support system ko, talagang nakakabalik na ako. So very, very happy ako na nandito ako sa team.”
Molina has paid it forward to the Foxies in her return to the court, being an integral part of their success under coach Alessandro Lodi in the Reinforced Conference. The Foxies wrapped up preliminaries with a franchise-best 7-1 record, and will enter the quarterfinals as the number one seed.
Throughout their run, Molina has emerged as a supporting gunner, averaging 10.12 points in preliminaries to complement super import Helene Rousseaux (26.12 points per game), and top local Trisha Tubu (14.5 points per game).
“Sobrang happy ko and grateful talaga na nag-start ulit ako ngayon and continuously nakakabalik na and nakakahelp sa team. Ang goal ko lang talaga is maiangat ‘yung team ngayon,” she said.
“Alam ko naman na kayang-kaya ng team, but ito nga, collective effort talaga. Hindi lang setter or spiker, talagang buong team ito with the help of Coach Lodi and management.”
Molina has also embraced her role as a veteran who brings playoff experience to the young Foxies.
“It starts with leadership sa loob; kunwari natatambakan na kami or hindi maganda ‘yung sitwasyon, it’s kind of a reminder lang sa team na mag-relax or mag-enjoy…and also sa training, gusto ko rin i-challenge ‘yung mga ka-pwesto ko. Ganun din sila, so friendly competition talaga,” she said.
‘As good a role model’
In the eyes of Coach Lodi, Ces Molina has proven to be a valuable addition to the up-and-coming Foxies. More than her added leadership, Lodi has pointed out the veteran’s character, seeing her as a humble player even after everything she’s achieved in volleyball.
As Lodi shared, Molina remains driven to expand her game, and brings a passion that can be compared to that of first or second-year players entering the league.
“Ces is as good a role model and a person to have on the team as it gets, mostly as a player who really wants to get better and do more things,” the Italian mentor shared. “She’s a player that you can tell her, ‘Alright, you have one week to learn how to become a third blocker’.”
“She’s not gonna shy away and stay from her comfort zone. She’s gonna be like ‘Okay, let’s do it’, so just nothing but respect from her.”
For Molina, it’s actually the first time she’s been complemented by Lodi, who has made quite the impression with his passion and no-nonsense approach towards players. Having heard those words, she said, is only a reminder to continue getting better at this stage into her career.
“Parang nakikita niya pala ‘yung efforts ko, and this is something na parang babaunin ko sa mga future games pa, and I need to remain humble and hindi porke’t na-complement ka [yayabang na], and gusto pa niya maging better kami.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.