Long wait worth it for Eya Laure

MANILA, Philippines -- Eya Laure could’ve been with the University of Sto. Tomas’ seniors team for two years now.

One could just imagine where the Tigresses could’ve been in the UAAP with Laure playing alongside her sister EJ and a very passionate Sisi Rondina.

Unfortunately, Laure had to stay in high school for two more years following the implementation of the K-12 education system.

But the delay was worth the wait for Laure, taking it as a blessing in disguise rather than wasted time.

“Ako kasi since akala ko pagka-Grade 11 and Grade 12 ko makakalaro na ko sa seniors,” said Laure Sunday after UST’s 25-21, 25-12, 25-17 demolition of San Sebastian College in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Collegiate Conference at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

“Kaso nu’ng in-announce sa amin ni coach siguro may plan talaga para sa amin si God, na magpe-prepare talaga sa amin kasi may kulang pa samin ni (setter) Maji (Mangulabnan),” added Laure, who scored all her seven points on kills.

The additional high school years molded Laure into a better and versatile player.

Her achievements in the high school rank made her a sought after recruit. And who will not want a player who has collected a rookie of the year award (Season 75) and a Season MVP honor (Season 78) on top of being a Best Setter (Season 76), Best Attacker (Season 77) and back-to-back Best Opposite Hitter from Season 79 to 80?

Fortunately for UST, Laure decided to stay.

“Si Eya Laure, siyempre, talk of the town. Kilala naman ng mga tao 'yun. Galing 'yan sa programa namin sa high school,” said UST head coach Kungfu Reyes. “Sa dami ng rookies ngayon, di naman nalalayo si Eya sa mga ka-batch niya na recruit ng ibang teams.”

Laure actually had already shown what she can give to the Tigresses when she played as a guest player two years ago for UST in the defunct V-League’s Collegiate Conference.

And choosing the Espana-based squad for Laure is a way of giving back for all the efforts made by Reyes and Yani Fernandez in helping her develop into a complete player.

“Si coach Kungfu naman kasi simula’t simula talaga na mag-volleyball ako andyan siya kahit nung Grade 5 ako tine-train ako ni coach Kungfu at coach Ian na mag-setter spiker na,” she recalled. “So ‘yun pagkapasok ng Grade 7 sa UST nagi-expect na sila sa akin na makakatulong ako.”

“So parang naka-set na siya sa akin na siyempre ginawa nila ako, trinain nila ako ng sobrang tagal alam ko talaga naghahanap sila ng something galing sa akin. Na gusto nila na lahat ng pinagpaguran nila sa akin na binigyan nila ako ng time para ma-develop ng ganito tapos gusto nila magkaroon ng result,” she added.

For now, Laure is taking it slow as she is still recovering from a right shoulder contusion.

But come UAAP time, Laure will be ready to bring her long-awaited roar in the collegiate volleyball scene.

This story originally appeared on the ABS-CBN Sports website.