UST star Eya Laure mulls future after UAAP Final Four exit | Inquirer Sports

UST star Eya Laure mulls future after UAAP Final Four exit

/ 10:12 PM May 03, 2023

Eya Laure UST Tigresses UAAP Season 85 Final Four

UST Tigresses’ Eya Laure. UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Eya Laure is still unsure if she will return for her final year with University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.

Laure left everything on the floor with 15 points, 12 digs, and 11 receptions but it wasn’t enough to extend UST’s campaign in Season 85, losing to La Salle, 24-26, 22-25, 25-20, 19-25, on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Time will tell kung ano yung para sa akin. Ayoko kasi magmadali, gusto ko i-open lahat ng doors muna ngayon at makikinig ako and of course, ngayon kung ano yung state ng team ngayon,” said Laure, the tournament’s top scorer for the past two seasons.  “Siyempre nandoon pa rin yung part sa puso ko na syempre gusto ko pang mag-laro. Sabi ko nga kanina, kung meron akong playing year hanggang Season 100, bakit naman hindi, di ba? Pero siyempre kailangan mag-move forward pa lagi sa buhay.”

FEATURED STORIES

“Ngayon, wala akong binibigay na answer. Gusto ko lang muna ng time, ng time ulit and mag-recover kung ano ‘man yung condition ng katawan ko ngayon,” she added.

(Time will tell what’s next for me. I don’t want to rush anything. I want to open my doors and listen. Of course, part of me wants to play but we also have to move forward in life. I can’t give an answer right now because I want to rest and recover.)

Article continues after this advertisement

If she decides to go, the 24-year-old outside spiker is confident that UST will continue to contend without her thanks to a promising core to build on for the next seasons to come.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Sa mga next generations, I think, nandoon yung sinimulan ni Ate Sisi na nasabi ko rin sa mga bata. I think naman kung yung time na umalis ako sa university, alam naman nila kung ano yung gusto kong i-instill as a player and as an individual,” Laure said. “Kung paano magmahal yung UST at kung paano maglaro para sa UST.”

Article continues after this advertisement

(For the next generations, I think I was able to pass what Ate Sisi started. I think when the time comes that I’ll leave the university, they know what I want them to instill as a player in loving UST.)

Eya Laure UST Tigresses UAAP Season 85

UST’s Eya Laure tries to score against La Salle during their game in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball Final Four. UAAP PHOTO

Laure turned emotional looking back on her collegiate journey that started with a Finals run with Sisi Rondina when she won the top rookie in Season 81 last 2019 but lost to Ateneo in the finals.

Article continues after this advertisement

The former girls MVP from UST high school played with her sister EJ in 2020 but the season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic. She and the Tigresses placed fourth last year and took her time before deciding to come back this season.

“Coach KungFu (Reyes) and coach Ian (Fernandez) were huge factors in who Eya Laure has become. I won’t let go of all the learnings I got from them and I will bring it forever,” said an emotional Laure in Filipino.

UST coach KungFu Reyes said the team will support Laure whatever decision she makes.

“It’s just Eya’s fourth year in the UAAP. It depends on her if she will play one more year or turn pro. We will wait for the next chapter but we won’t force her,” Reyes said in Filipino. “But we have to level up, especially in recruitment. We have to find another talent.“

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Despite missing the finals for the second straight season, Laure remained grateful as the Tigresses were able to show a better performance this year.

RELATED STORIES

La Salle returns to UAAP Finals, eliminates Eya Laure-led UST

UAAP: Eya Laure determined to end UST’s title drought

TAGS: Eya Laure, UAAP Season 85, UST Tigresses

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.