With Far Eastern University aiming to stay in the thick of a tight Final Four race in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Cla Loresco delivered at the perfect moment with a breakout performance for the Lady Tamaraws.

The 19-year-old middle blocker uncorked a career-best 17 points built on 10 attacks, four aces, and three blocks in FEU’s tight four-set win over fellow postseason contender University of the Philippines, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 25-22, on Sunday evening at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

Loresco’s heroics not only helped the Lady Tamaraws snap a two-game skid, but also pushed FEU into a three-way tie for third place, joining Adamson University and the University of Santo Tomas in a crowded race for the last two Final Four berths with two matches remaining in the elimination round.

For Loresco, however, FEU’s standing in the playoff picture was not her main motivation. Instead, she focused on bouncing back from subpar performances earlier in Season 88 for the Tina Salak-mentored squad.

“Siguro nung mga past games namin, alam ko naman sa sarili ko na hindi pa ‘yon ’yung todo ko na laro. Parang nanonood ako ng games ko dati at kung paano ako tumiming sa palo, kung paano ako mag-service, at kung paano ako mag-block,” the homegrown product from FEU-Diliman shared postgame.

“Ngayon, kailangan lang talaga humingi ng tulong kay Lord kasi palagi naman siyang nandiyan. Kailangan ko rin bigyan ng action para mag-meet kami halfway ni Lord.”

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

Head coach Tina Salak, for her part, was pleased with the timing of Loresco’s career-best outing, noting that in just her second year, the San Jose del Monte, Bulacan native has shown growing maturity and composure as FEU continues its bid to end a 14-season title drought.

“Yung sa amin naman ni Cla kasi, never too late, lagi ko ’yan sinasabi. If bad game today or bad day ngayon, there’s another day para ma-improve namin yung game niya. But still, nagkaroon ng composure si Cla. Nagkaroon siya ng identity na this time, hindi na ito puwede; sinusubukan siya every time. Nagkaroon din siya ng identity na kailangan siya ng team this time,” Salak said.

“Nagkaroon siya ng maturity sa lahat ng ginagawa niya, even inside and outside the court. But still, kung ano yung nakita natin kay Cla today, ito pa lang yung start. Para sa amin o para sa akin, i-advise ko lang na hindi lang isang beses puwede mong magawa yung 17 points. It’s a matter kung paano tayo magtiwala sa sarili natin na kaya natin kung paano tayo mag-deliver para sa team,” she added.

Looking ahead to FEU’s final two elimination round matches that could decide their Final Four fate, Loresco vowed not to rest on her laurels and to continue improving both her on-court performance and off-court leadership.

FEU will next face Adamson University in a crucial matchup with major Final Four implications on Saturday, April 18, at the same UST venue, before wrapping up its elimination round campaign against Ateneo de Manila University on April 22 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

“Yung thoughts ko lang, dapat hindi pa ako ma-satisfy sa gano’n na galaw kasi alam ko na meron pa akong kayang gawin at kaya ko pang angatan ‘yon. Sa game namin today, sobrang proud and happy ako sa ginalaw namin. Thank you, sa teammates ko at kay Lord,” the 6-foot-1 middle blocker said.

“Sobrang laking bagay sa akin ng araw na ito kasi na-boost masyado yung confidence ko to play pa. I know kailangan din ako ng team. Thank you kay ate Tin (Ubaldo) at kay ate Aly (Devosora) kasi maganda rin pinakita nila. Next games naman namin, mabigat, kaya kailangan naming gawin yung best namin at magkaroon din kami ng composure sa isa’t isa at sa sarili namin at ng pasensya.”

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On the night before Far Eastern University’s crucial second-round clash against De La Salle University in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament, Vennie Ceballos found himself far from the bright lights of the Taraflex.

Last Tuesday evening, what was supposed to be a routine team dinner turned into a moment of personal grief when Ceballos received the devastating news that his grandfather—whom he fondly called Papa Jerome—had passed away.

The 19-year-old libero from Cebu had every reason to sit out the game, but fueled by the belief that his grandfather was watching from above and supported by the warm embrace of the Tamaraws, Ceballos chose to play—to honor his grandfather’s memory.

“Sa akin lang personally, napaka-meaningful ng day na ito kasi long story short, tinatala ko talaga yung game na ito para sa lolo ko na nawala kagabi noong nag-team dinner kami. Ayun nga, first time ko na makaramdam ng ganito na yung feeling na mabigat,” Ceballos said post-match Wednesday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

“Although mabigat sa pakiramdam, tina-try ko yung best ko na mag-focus ako kung nasaan ako ngayon.”

Drawing strength from somewhere deeper than the sport itself, the second-year libero delivered when it mattered most—less than 24 hours after his grandfather’s passing—tallying 18 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs in a four-set triumph over Final Four aspirant La Salle.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

The victory did more than secure the Tamaraws’ 10th win in 11 outings; it also guaranteed FEU at least a playoff for a coveted twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

More than a tribute to his beloved lolo, Ceballos’ performance became a testament to his resilience—choosing to rise above personal loss and stand firm when the Tamaraws needed him the most.

“Ayun, yung pinaka nagma-matter kasi is kung sino ka or kung paano ka mag-react sa situation or sa mga challenges sa life na hinaharap ngayon. Nag-enjoy kami and nag-stay kami sa present kung ano ‘man yung nasa harap namin,” the product of University of Southern Philippines Foundation expressed.

“Nag-focus kami sa kung ano ang control namin sa team at binibigay namin yung lahat sa ensayo para pagdating sa game, maganda yung kalalabasan.”

Fully aware of the rare opportunity he holds playing in the country’s premier collegiate league, Ceballos chose to meet the moment with presence and purpose.

He played through adversity—not just with a heavy heart, but with the full appreciation that moments like these are rare and meant to be lived fully.

“At ayun, kung ano yung sinasabi sa coaches namin na pag nagsu-support kami, stay in the moment lang talaga. Kasi bihira lang sa isang athlete na mabigyan ng isang chance na makapaglaro sa ganitong level,” Ceballos said.

“Palagi ko talagang iniisip kung ano yung kaya kong maibigay sa game, kung ano yung trabaho ko, kung ano yung mando sa mga coaches namin. Lahat kami, pinipilit naming gustuhin ang bawat game. Parang siguro nag-prepare kami every before game kasi sabay sabay kami kakain.”

#WATCH: MADILIM PA, KAILANGAN PA NG FLASHLIGHT PARA MAKITA ANG HINAHANAP NAMIN

FEU head coach Ed Orcullo and Charles Absin share their thoughts as the Tamaraws close in on a twice-to-beat advantage in #UAAPSeason88#ReadMore https://t.co/csvLIl0iq0

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— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 8, 2026

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Far Eastern University avenged its first-round loss to National University with a gritty 25-23, 25-23, 20-25, 21-25, 22-20 victory, earning a share of second place in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

The Lady Tamaraws now join the Lady Bulldogs in a tie for second, with both teams holding identical 6-3 records.

Unlike in their first-round meeting—where NU pulled off a thrilling reverse sweep, 17-25, 16-25, 25-19, 25-21, 15-12—FEU held its ground this time, showing composure to outlast the defending champions.

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