Cla Loresco hopes to use valuable Alas experience in FEU's UAAP Season 88 bid

The FEU Lady Tamaraws are in transition following the departure of veteran hitters like Jean Asis and Chenie Tagaod, but the Morayta-based squad is not exactly on a rebuild.

Following a fruitful offseason, middle blocker Cla Loresco is set for a bigger role under head coach Tina Salak's system — gaining valuable experience through her stint with Alas Pilipinas.

Loresco, though relatively quiet in UAAP Season 87, caught the eye of former Alas head coach Jorge De Brito, and she was called up to play in multiple tournaments shortly after the collegiate season.

Now that she’s back in FEU, Loresco hopes to be a better version of herself as she looks to power the Lady Tamaraws in UAAP Season 88.

“Sobrang laking tulong niya din sakin kasi yun nga po, experience po na makalaban din yung ibang bansa, yung mga top teams din po sa ibang bansa, Vietnam, Thailand, sobrang marami rin po akong natutunan na pwede ko po madala sa UAAP,” Loresco said of her Alas stint.

But while playing for the national team is a huge boost, Loresco admits that position changes when she was with Alas hampered some of her UAAP preparation.

Nevertheless, things have been going well for her in the Lady Tamaraws' buildup for a deeper run in UAAP Season 88, where they seek a Finals berth after getting stopped in the Final Four the last two years.

“Medyo nahirapan lang din po ako kasi nga po, opposite po ako don and then back to middle again, parang, hirap po akong kunin ulit yung timing pero ngayon po, okay naman na po yung timing ko,” she said.

“Tumaas din naman yung confidence ko na kaya po talaga namin makipagsabayan sa lahat ng teams and alam ko na rin naman po na talagang lalaban din kami and hindi kami kumbaga bibitaw agad, kagaya nung last season."

Missing piece

While Loresco thinks that FEU can finally break through and earn a Finals berth for the first time since UAAP Season 80, it is easier said than done.

But with a team mentality, Loresco knows that the Lady Tamaraws have increased their chances.

When it comes down to it, Loresco said FEU will lean on how unified the team is, especially since a lot of their key players transitioned into the pros last year.

“Siguro… [Kailangan] mas maging buo po kami this season. Yun lang po talaga yung kailangan namin gawin and sumunod po kami sa sistema namin kasi kapag wala po kami sa sistema, watak watak po talaga,” she said.

FEU faces a litmus test early in its UAAP Season 88 campaign, opening the weekend against runners-up DLSU Lady Spikers on February 14 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.

Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.