Eya Laure made sure to savor the rare opportunity to share the court with her sister EJ.
Though they stood on opposite sides of the net on Tuesday, the moment was one she deeply appreciated — a meaningful chapter in their shared journey after years of playing side by side from college to their early days in the Premier Volleyball League with Chery Tiggo.
“Actually, nami-miss ko siya kasama,” said Eya following Choco Mucho’s 27-25, 28-26, 16-25, 25-19 win over EJ’s Nxled in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil Centre.
“Pero iba pala yung feeling kapag kalaban ko siya. Kasi last na nakalaban ko siya, parang high school pa ako, ta’s college na, nagtu-tune up kami.”
That appreciation, however, did not erase the unfamiliarity of facing her sister as an opponent.
Still, Eya said she was simply happy to see her sister back on the same court with her, even if it meant standing on opposite sides of the net.
(C) PVL Images
“Masaya lang ako, masaya ako na sabay kaming nakakapaglaro until now. Nakakatuwa kasi siyempre, parang pagka nakikita ko siyang pumapalo, alam ko na kaagad kung saan siya pupunta e,” said the Alas Pilipinas standout.
Eya came up big for the Flying Titans, scoring six of the team’s final 10 points to fuel a comeback from a 9-15 deficit in the fourth set and help secure their second consecutive win. She finished with 13 points on 13 attacks in the two-hour victory.
Meanwhile, EJ registered three points, playing only in the first two sets of the tightly-contested match.
“Parang gano’n, sabi ko, gano’n ako ka-familiar sa ate ko. Na-miss ko rin kasi, siyempre, last namin, last kaming nagkasama, is last year? Last, last year. So ayun, parang iba lang yung feeling na Ate mo yung kalaban mo,” Eya said.
Despite her heroics, Eya admitted it was a tough match, managing an abdominal strain along the way. She was, however, grateful to have another sister, Sisi Rondina, by her side, helping her navigate the challenges on the court.
“Pero buti na lang nandiyan si Ate Sisi sa side ko na ‘to tap. Kasi kung ano yung ginagawa ni Ate Sisi sa akin na pag-tap or pag-remind, yun yung ginagawa kasi ng Ate ko before,” she said.
“So ayun lang, masaya na marami akong Ate sa paligid ko.”
