EJ Laure had been out of the UAAP landscape for two years. And once she made her much-awaited return in UST’s Season 82 Women’s Volleyball opener on Wednesday, she wasted no time announcing it.
The 22-year-old hitter dealt damage in a myriad of ways, spearheading the Golden Tigresses to a promising start over National University.
The elder Laure was on the cusp of a triumphant homecoming. Unfortunately, though, she and the rest of the Golden Tigresses surrendered to the late-game brilliance of Margot Mutshima and the young Lady Bulldogs.
Nonetheless, the 5-foot-9 Laure gave it her all. She had a triple-double of 17 points, 20 digs, and 12 reception. She then credited her stellar production to an unrelenting off-season regimen.
“Pinaghaandan ko talaga ‘to. Nag-double time ako,” she bared.
“Lumabas lang kung ano pinaghirapan ko.”
Laure’s comeback has been a welcome development for UST this season, especially after Sisi Rondina’s departure. And she’s well aware of her responsibility.
“Siyempre lahat sila kinakabahan kasi first game, UAAP na. Siyempre as an ate sa kanila, ‘di ko papakita na kinakabahan din ako. Mas nile-lead ko sila,” she said.
She then continued, “Ngayon, para ma-realize muna ‘yung mga pagkukulang nila. Siguro, bukas na ‘ko magsasabi sa kanila and itatama kung ano nakikita kong mali.”
Laure and UST may have lost at the start of their redemption bid, but the Season 77 Rookie of the Year knows that there’s nowhere to go but up.
As she put it, “We fell short, pero siyempre babangon pa rin.”
