When Clarisse Loresco returns to Far Eastern University this season, she’ll be bringing more than just sharper spikes and improved court vision. She’ll be carrying the lessons and maturity gained from a summer spent wearing the country’s colors.
The 19-year-old opposite hitter didn’t waste her break after FEU’s Final Four finish. Instead, she answered the call to join Alas Pilipinas Women, training under head coach Jorge de Brito and battling against Asia’s finest. The stint, though short, was transformative.
“Siguro bago ako mag-enter ng Alas, hindi pa ako ganoon ka-mature yung pagiisip ko. After naman ng Alas, I think meron na ako na-earn na maturity,” Loresco admitted after scoring nine points in FEU’s four-set win over Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the V-League Collegiate Challenge.
Her words reflect the deeper shift she feels—a sense of patience and resilience learned not just through drills, but by being surrounded by seasoned players and absorbing their approach to the game.
Playing alongside fellow young guns like Angel Canino and Shaina Nitura while sharing the same floor with veterans Jia de Guzman, Eya Laure, and Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Loresco found herself learning more than just tactics. She learned to wait her turn.
“In terms of sa games, yung pinaka-unang una na sinabi nila sa akin ay maging patient,” she said.
“Hindi naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay magagamit ako, kaya kailangan ko raw ng patience doon. Alam ko naman ‘yon and may trust ako sa coaches ko if ipapasok ako or wala.”
That humility and openness to growth have impressed FEU head coach Tina Salak, who knows the demands of juggling multiple systems.
“Kung yung task namin ngayon sa kanya ay maging middle, kasi si Cla nagkakaroon ng task [sa Alas] na iba yung role sa kanya. Sa amin lang is more on mag-focus siya sa isang position and tignan namin kung paano siya makaka-fit ulit kasi iba rin yung systems ‘eh,” said the Queen Tamaraw.
“Today, naninibago siya pero ang laki rin kasi ng impact ni Cla sa team, especially yung mga experiences niya. Even doon sa pag nag-uusap nila ng mga teammates niya, iba na rin.”
It’s that perspective—seeing the bigger picture, not just the next play—that Loresco believes will help the Lady Tamaraws as they chase redemption in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge. FEU came painfully close last year, finishing with silver. This time, they want to finish the job.
“Sa ngayon, parang medyo nag-aadjust ulit ako, and yung mga learnings, na-aapply ko naman siya sa sarili ko. Lahat ng tinuro nila, nagagamit ko, lalo na yung sinabi ni ate Eya [Laure] before na kailangan ko lang magkaroon ng patience,” she said.
“Promise ko rin na i-share ko rin sa team namin yung mga naturo sa amin sa Alas para maganda yung maging bawi namin dito sa V-League and lalo na sa UAAP.”
