Eya Laure during Chery Tiggo’s battle for third game against Petro Gazz in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Former University of Santo Tomas star Eya Laure turned emotional after seeing Golden Tigresses rookie ace Angge Poyos go down with an injury in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Finals on Saturday.
Laure was among the 20,955 fans who saw National University beat a shorthanded UST squad after Poyos hurt her right ankle in the second set after stepping on teammate Em Banagua’s foot.
“I really almost teared up when I saw that. I didn’t know what to feel, things flashed back,” said Laure in Filipino after firing 26 points to help Chery Tiggo force a decider in its battle for bronze match against Petro Gazz in the PVL All-Filipino Conference on Sunday.
READ: NU Lady Bulldogs dominate UST Tigresses in UAAP Finals Game 1
‘NAGFLASHBACK’ 😕
WATCH: Chery Tiggo’s Eya Laure explains her emotions when she saw UST star Angge Poyos drop with an injury yesterday.
Evidently, when Laure was still in UST in 2019, she also came down with an injury during their Finals series with Ateneo. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/ec3OwRPdeJ
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) May 12, 2024
“Actually, I was sitting beside ate Sisi (Rondina) and I almost cried seeing those unfortunate events and we can’t control it… I told her, ‘it’s like Game 2 of Season 81.’”
Laure was referring to five years ago when she also sustained an ankle injury in the UAAP women’s volleyball Finals against Ateneo. Laure, like Poyos, was also in her rookie year at that time.
With Laure ailing, UST went on to lose the title series. Laure, though, hopes it won’t be the same story for the current Tigresses.
READ: UST star Angge Poyos ‘questionable’ for UAAP Finals Game 2
“I know that UST will still fight because Poyos isn’t the only reason why they’re in the Finals. They’re there because they used teamwork and that’s no joke. They’re a young team and they’re already in the Finals.
“Others in that team don’t even have Finals exposure yet. The pressure in a Finals setting is really different and as a young team, they should embrace the experience. They shouldn’t think much of where they are because the more they do, they’ll be even more pressured.”
Poyos, who is on pace to win rookie MVP, is listed as questionable for Game 2.