The FEU Lady Tamaraws found a timely spark in Cla Loresco as they kept themselves alive in the race for the last two spots in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
The middle blocker delivered a breakout performance, firing a career-high 17 points built on 10 attacks, 4 aces, and 3 blocks to power the Lady Tamaraws past the UP Fighting Maroons, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 25-22, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sunday, April 12.
Cla Loresco Finds Her Rhythm, Footing
Loresco’s emergence could not have come at a better time.
The win snapped FEU’s two-game skid and pushed the Lady Tamaraws into a three-way tie for third with the Adamson Lady Falcons and UST Lady Tigresses—tightening an already crowded race with two matches left for each team.
For Loresco, however, the breakout was less about the numbers and more about rediscovering her rhythm.
“Siguro nung mga past games namin, alam ko naman sa sarili ko na hindi pa ’yon ’yung todo ko na laro,” she said.
“Parang binabalikan ko kung paano ako tumiming sa palo, kung paano mag-service, at kung paano mag-block.”
She added that faith and effort went hand in hand in her bounce-back performance.
“Kailangan lang humingi ng tulong kay Lord kasi palagi naman siyang nandiyan. Kailangan ko rin bigyan ng action para mag-meet kami halfway.”
A Welcome Development for FEU
Lady Tamaraws head coach Tina Salak welcomed the development, noting the growing maturity and composure of her young middle blocker as FEU continues its push to end a long title drought.
“Sa amin ni Cla, never too late, lagi ko ’yan sinasabi,” Salak said.
“If bad game today, there’s another day para ma-improve. Pero ngayon, nagkaroon siya ng composure at identity na kailangan siya ng team. ‘Yung nakita natin kay Cla today, ito pa lang ’yung start. Hindi lang isang beses dapat magawa ’yan—kailangan tuloy-tuloy.”
With two crucial matches left in the eliminations, Cla Loresco is not letting the breakout define her ceiling.
“Hindi pa ako dapat ma-satisfy sa gano’n na galaw kasi alam ko na meron pa akong kayang gawin,” she said.
“Sobrang proud ako sa ginalaw namin today, pero next games namin mabigat, kaya kailangan namin gawin ’yung best namin at magkaroon ng composure.”
Cla Loresco and the Lady Tamaraws will take on the Adamson Lady Falcons on Saturday, April 18, at 5:00 p.m. at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, before ending the elimination round against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Wednesday, April 22, at 1:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
