Eya Laure ends UST stint after 12 years

UST Tigresses’ Eya Laure. UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Eya Laure kissed University of Santo Tomas goodbye after spending the past 12 years in the school from high school to college.

The Tigresses captain on Thursday made her decision to bid farewell after four seasons in the UAAP women’s volleyball.

It was a hard decision for Laure as she moves on to the next chapter of her volleyball career.

“Maybe that’s why up until the last minute, I wanted to find a way to play for one more year. I feel like I’m breaking up with thousands of people and my heart is shattering into pieces. It’s painful and hard to say goodbye,” Laure wrote in a mix of English and Filipino.

The 24-year-old spiker apologized to the UST community after not winning a championship during her three full seasons in college but she is leaving with a grateful heart to her teammates, coaches, and supporters.

“I’m sorry wasn’t able to deliver the championship you deserve. But more than that, thank you. I feel like my heart is exploding from the [overwhelming] thanks I have for you,” she said.

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Laure had a stellar first year in 2019 as she emerged as the Rookie of the Year and frontrunner to her Season 81 MVP teammate Sisi Rondina as they brought back UST to the Finals only to fall to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in Game 3.

The former UAAP girls MVP from UST high school, who won a high school title in Season 76,  reunited with her sister EJ in 2020 but the tournament was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Laure emerged as the back-to-back league best scorer in the past two seasons but the Tigresses were eliminated in the post-season.

UST, which was the No.3 seed in Season 84, fell to Ateneo in the stepladder semifinals last year. Laure and Co. placed fourth in the eliminations in Season 85 but got eliminated by the twice-to-beat and eventual champion La Salle.

LESSONS AND HEARTBREAKS

TEARS OF JOY. Eya Laure and the rest of the UST Golden Tigresses in 2019. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Laure didn’t reveal her team in the Premier Volleyball League but she promises to bring all the learnings from UST for the past 12 years.

“So much went on in those last 12 years. I experienced and overcame the K-12 and pandemic here. There’s so many heartbreaks. I experienced losing a lot of games. There’s so many lessons as well. But my favorite thing is I learned how to love,” the spiker wrote.

“Thank you UST. That’s what I’ve always said since I stepped into this school until the moment I have to say goodbye to the school that has accompanied me and never gave up on me no matter what. If not for you, I probably would not have been able to reach my dream,” she added.

“I always get praised saying how much I love UST. But I hope you know that you taught me that. That’s why I’m saying thank you very, very much. I promise, no matter where I go, I will bring your love with me. No goodbyes. Just see you again.”

Imee Hernandez also bid farewell to UST moments before Laure posted. Milena Alessandrini is also leaving the Tigresses after graduating.