UST Tigresses’ Eya Laure. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Chery Tiggo signed and sealed the most sought-after collegiate player in Eya Laure, who signed with the Crossovers ahead of the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference.
The Crossovers on Sunday saved the best for last, revealing Laure as their final recruit, joining her University of Santo Tomas teammate Imee Hernandez and National University key players Cess Robles, Jennifer Nierva, and Joyme Cagande.
Laure decided to stay with the franchise in her first professional stint, following a brief campaign with the former Foton team in the 2019 Philippine Superliga Invitationals before the franchise moved to the PVL’s first professional season two years ago.
The reigning back-to-back UAAP Best Scorer kissed UST goodbye after four seasons in the collegiate division and 12 years with the university including high school.
Eya is reunited with her older sister EJ for the first time since they played together in UAAP Season 82, which was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The addition of the younger Laure fortified the wing spiker rotation of coach Aaron Velez as she teams up with team captain Mylene Paat, Shaya Adorador, Pauline Gaston, and Robles.
Laure vowed on her farewell Instagram post for UST that she will bring the love and learnings from the Tigresses when she enters the pro ranks.
Chery Tiggo, which missed the semifinals of the 2023 All-Filipino Conference with a 4-4 record in the elimination round, is seeking to reclaim the PVL crown after winning the maiden professional championship in Ilocos Norte two years ago behind the heroics of sisters Jaja Santiago and Dindin Santiago-Manabat.