Rachel Anne Daquis embraces her role as the veteran leader in a competitive, but young Farm Fresh Foxies team.
After a 551-day layoff, Rachel Anne Daquis has officially turned a new leaf in her storied volleyball career with the Farm Fresh Foxies.
Daquis made her Farm Fresh debut on Thursday, entering midway into set 2 of the Foxies’ 28-26, 17-25, 25-19, 25-17 win over the Galeries Tower Highrisers at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Despite seeing limited minutes, it was a major step in the 37-year-old’s re-adjustment to the physical demands of a professional volleyball career.
“Mas nakakaba sa labas [when she’s on the bench], ang lamig ko sa labas! Pero nung pinasok na ako sa court, alam ko naman yung gagawin ko eh. Kahit nag-bakasyon ako, pero syempre iba na din yung pinagdaanan natin sa ating volleyball career,” Daquis reflected post-game.
Daquis herself admitted that she’s yet to be in game shape, but is nonetheless taking it day by day for the Foxies amid the lengthy 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference setup.
“Ilang percent siguro? Siguro getting there, siguro mas maniniwala ako sa perfect timing. Mahaba-haba pa ‘yung laro, so naniniwala ako [sa perfect timing] and naniniwala din ako sa sistema ni Coach Boc [Benson Bocboc] , and ‘yung timing kung kailan papasok at magpapalit ng tao,” she said.
Rachel Anne Daquis last played in the PVL during the 2023 Invitational Conference before going on her indefinite on-court break. But now that she’s returned to action, Daquis admits that there’s nothing left to prove at this stage into her career, which already includes championships at the collegiate and professional level.
At this point, she just hopes to be the veteran leader that Farm Fresh needs, which boasts a loaded young core led by spitfire scorer Trisha Tubu.
“Kasi personally, wala na ‘ko hinahabol pa sa career ko, para na ‘to sa mga bata,” Daquis reflected. “So ‘yun ‘yung magiging biggest contribution ko sa kanila, kung paano ako magllead sa loob ng court, paano sila magiging intact na pwede silang sundan. So gumagawa lang tayo ng blueprint para sa kanila.”
“Kasi sa kanila nakita mo naman [si Tubu] 33 points, andiyan na lahat, kumpleto na ‘yung bala. So ang tanong na lang, paano namin lalaruin ‘yung laro namin at paano ko sila matutulungan maging intact. Parang ako ‘yung glue, so ‘yun ‘yung pinakamahalaga,” said Daquis, who was a constant presence on Farm Fresh’s bench ahead of her return.
In another show of maturity, Daquis shared her intent to play with more precision rather than relying on raw power and explosiveness.
“Siguro before, I love playing with power, ngayon I love playing smarter. So mas gusto ko sa ensayo pa lang, ginugulangan ko na ‘yung mga teammates ko, so totoo ‘yun, galit na galit sila [her teammates]! ‘Yun ‘yung nasa isip ko ngayon, mindset ko na hindi mo kailangan always power,” reflected the FEU Lady Tamaraws legend.
Now facing younger and more physically gifted players, Daquis knows that her veteran smarts will allow her to remain impactful whenever she’s slotted into the court with the Foxies.
“Ngayon, kailangan mo mas maging matalino kasi sa dami ng mga batang malalakas ngayon, lamang pa din ang matalino maglaro. So ‘yun ‘yung talagang ina-eye ko ngayon, na talagang ‘yung papunta doon sa ganong paglalaro.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.