Former UST stars Eya Laure and Sisi Rondina watching a UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Eya Laure is proud of how the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses have proven that they can carry the school pride and compete at a high level even without her in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
In the post-Eya Laure era, the young Tigresses have unleashed their best start in the Final Four era by winning their first eight games.
Laure, who played her final season last year, knew that the batch of super rookie Angge Poyos, Reg Jurado, Jonna Perdido, Cassie Carballo, and Detdet Pepito would step up even without her.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball second round
“Masayang masaya ako sa aking mga babies kasi sinasabi ko sainyo Mini Miss U man yun pero yung heart nila parang ang laki talaga,” said the Season 81 Rookie of the Year, who turned pro with Imee Hernandez in the PVL, bidding farewell to UST with Milena Alessandrini.
“Masaya ako sa post-Eya Laure era na sinasabi nga nila kasi kahit umalis ako, kaya kayo ipaglaban niyan at hindi kayo papabayaan ng mga batang yan.”
UST Tigresses in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.bet
The Chery Tiggo star, who was part of UST’s last finals appearance in 2019 during Sisi Rondina’s MVP season, believes the current Tigresses–who may not be the tallest team–will continue to make the school proud even after winning their first eight games.
READ: UAAP: UST ‘needs’ better performance despite unbeaten mark
“For sure, sa bawat sigaw niyo at suporta nyo sa UST andiyan sila para lumaban hangga’t kaya nila,” said Laure, who recently led Chery Tiggo to big wins, ending Creamline’s 19-game winning streak and beating Petro Gazz in five sets last Thursday.
And even though she’s no longer part of the squad, Laure is still updated about her teammates and she urges the fans to understand their recent struggle against Ateneo.
“Intindihin niyo lang yung mga past few games kasi prelims lang ngayon sa UST. Pagpasensyahan niyo lang. Mahalin niyo lang sila and for sure mamahalin din nila kayo talaga. Nakita naman natin,” she said.
No sweep?
Eya Laure’s iconic “no sweep” meme.
UST battles National University on Sunday, hoping to keep its unbeaten run going.
Laure, who made a trending “No Sweep” celebration last year, hopes her former team won’t be on the receiving end of her iconic phrase when UST handed the eventual champion La Salle’s lone defeat of Season 85.
READ: Eya Laure ends UST stint after 12 years
And she doesn’t want to see her “no sweep” memes — a picture of her peeking whenever an unbeaten run is ended–just yet.
“Huwag muna lalabas si Eya ah. Yung Eya na sumisilip. Alam kong alam niyo yun, diba? Huwag muna for now. Ilaban natin hanggang dulo. Go USTe!” Laure said with laughter.