In sports, there are always comparisons between seasoned veterans and up-and-coming youngsters; it can’t be helped. So it comes as no surprise that people are already comparing UST rookie EJ Laure to Season 76 Best Scorer, Best Server, and Season MVP Alyssa Valdez from Ateneo.
Asked what she thought about the rookie from UST, Valdez only had nice things to say.
“Well EJ is really talented, since high school pa lang, diba? Bata pa lang malakas talaga eh, talented talaga. Pinanganak din talaga siya para mag volleyball. I’m really happy din talaga and really proud to be her senior in UST High School. Sobrang bait pa ng bata.”
But to Valdez, there really is no comparison, aside from going to the same high school. “Pero siguro wala talagang comparisons. Same lang siguro kami ng high school and coaches. Magaling talaga siya.”
Despite all the success she has achieved so far, Valdez still considers the younger generation to be extremely lucky.
“Payat kasi ako nung bata ako, sobrang unhealthy ako nung bata ako, malnourished ata ako. Kaya I think yung mga bata ngayon sobrang swerte din na nabibigyan sila ng attention. Nabibigyan sila ng coaches ng proper training, ng mga ano dapat kainin at hindi dapat kainin, so at least healthy sila, maganda yung katawan nila. Ang swerte talaga nila. Magaling talaga si EJ, talented talaga.”
Ateneo currently holds a 3-0 record, and have yet to drop a set. They will face UST, who holds a 1-2 record on Saturday, December 6, 2014.
