Alessandro Lodi has been everywhere. Poland. Japan. Germany. The United States. Sweden. Czechia. Finland. Switzerland. The Italian coach has witnessed volleyball’s global passion firsthand — yet, none of those stops could have prepared him for the wild, roaring welcome of Isabela.
Over the weekend, the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour descended on the Capital Arena for the first time, and with it came thousands of spirited fans eager to soak in top-tier volleyball. It was an atmosphere that left even the most seasoned of coaches speechless.
“First of all, the crowd was spectacular,” Lodi began during Saturday’s postgame press conference after Farm Fresh’s thrilling four-set victory over Choco Mucho, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23, 26-24.
“I've been in many many many volleyball games all around the world, but I cannot remember a crowd that was that loud.”
Lodi’s Foxies weren’t exactly the fan favorites coming in. Sharing the spotlight with crowd darlings like Choco Mucho, Petro Gazz, and PLDT, Farm Fresh entered the Capital Arena needing to win over a new crowd in unfamiliar territory. And they did just that.
By executing sharp attacks, committing to relentless floor defense, and putting on a show of discipline and grit, the Foxies turned a neutral — and at times rival — crowd into believers. Fans who came for their favorites stayed for Farm Fresh.
“That was amazing and it doesn't matter for whom they are cheering,” Lodi added. “I love having a lot of fans for the opposing team also. It's all passion for volleyball, so it's all great and the fans were amazing.”
The electricity inside the Capital Arena didn’t fade on Sunday. The venue was filled to the brim once more as Isabeleños returned for another action-packed PVL showcase. Riding the wave of momentum and energy from the crowd, Farm Fresh completed a 2-0 sweep of their Northern Luzon weekend stint with a straight-sets win over Petro Gazz, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23.
With that victory, the Foxies improved to a 2-1 standing in Pool A of the ongoing PVL On Tour, claiming solo third place and injecting themselves into early contention.
But beyond the numbers and standings, it was the experience that stood out for Lodi.
Isabela, a province known for its rich culture and agricultural roots, proved itself a rising force in volleyball appreciation — and in doing so, earned the admiration of one of the sport’s most well-traveled minds.
In just two months since officially taking the reins at Farm Fresh, Lodi has found more than just a team — he’s found a volleyball family. And with the warmth and noise of Isabela etched in his memory, it’s clear: the Philippines has a new fan in Alessandro Lodi.
“It's all great,” he repeated with a smile. “The fans were amazing.”
