Alas Pilipinas bring in Cla Loresco for Leg 2 of the 2025 SEA V.League as they open their campaign against host Vietnam.
Outside spiker Cla Loresco will suiting up for Alas Pilipinas as the national team kicks off its 2025 SEA V.League Leg 2 campaign on Friday night, August 8, in Ninh Binh, Vietnam.
She was supposed to be joined by Thea Gagate, but the middle blocker sustained a minor ankle injury during team practice.
[ALSO READ: Maddie Madayag replaces injured Thea Gagate in Alas Pilipinas’ SEA V.League Leg 2 roster]
Loresco replaces Leila Cruz while Gagate was supposed to take the place of Maddie Madayag from the Leg 1 roster, with head coach Jorge Souza de Brito aiming to find the right mix as the team continues to fine-tune for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in December.
Instead, Madayag will return to the lineup.
[ALSO READ: Jorge De Brito acknowledges ‘higher expectations’ for Alas Pilipinas in SEA V.League]
The Philippines aims to return to the podium after finishing with a bronze medal in the first leg, held in Thailand. However, they face a tough test early, going up against the hosts and silver medalists, Vietnam, at 8:00 p.m. (Manila time).
In their first meeting, Vietnam bested Alas Women in four sets, 13-25, 21-25, 25-23, 9-25, despite strong performances from Eya Laure and Vanie Gandler.
Loresco adds depth and scoring punch to a wing rotation already stacked with Angel Canino, Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Eya Laure, Vanie Gandler, and Shaina Nitura.
Veteran setter Jia de Guzman will once again orchestrate the offense, backed up by Mars Alba. On defense, liberos Justine Jazareno and Dawn Cantindig remain the anchors of the squad’s floor coverage.
The games will be aired on One Sports and the Pilipinas Live app.
Alas Women will also face Thailand on Friday, August 9, and Indonesia on Saturday, August 10.
[NEXT: SCHEDULE, RESULTS | Alas Pilipinas Women compete in 2025 SEA V.League Leg 2]
(Editor's note: This story initially reported that Cla Loresco and Thea Gagate were called for Leg 2. This was updated to reflect the developments regarding the middle blocker.)