Much has been said in the volleyball community about who will be the UAAP Season 85 Most Valuable Player in the women’s division.
The four names that often pop up in MVP conversations among volleyball circles are reigning award-holder Mhicaela Belen, De La Salle University’s Angel Canino and Jolina Dela Cruz – and University of Santo Tomas’ Eya Laure.
However, Laure couldn’t care less about winning the most prestigious individual award. She is focused on winning the championship in her final year.
Back in her rookie year in Season 81, the Golden Tigresses reached the Finals but bowed to Ateneo de Manila University, settling for silver.
“Hindi ko iniisip,” Laure quipped about the MVP award.
“Ang mas gusto ko talaga mag-champion, makapasok sa championship podium. Syempre nasa senior year na rin ako,” she added on Sunday after UST beat University of the Philippines in five sets.
“Nandoon yung attention ko ngayon.”
The 5-foot-10 outside hitter is zoned in on the Golden Tigresses’ opponent in the Final Four, the top-ranked Lady Spikers, who carry a twice-to-beat incentive. Despite having an identical 10-4 record with Adamson University, UST fell to the fourth seed because the Lady Falcons amassed 32 points.
Meanwhile, the Tigresses only managed 29 at the end of the elimination round.
No one can count UST out, though, as it was the only team that dented La Salle’s record in the eliminations via a 25-19, 14-25, 25-18, 25-12 win last April 2. Laure, however, made sure to show respect to the Lady Spikers’ name.
Banking on head coach Ramil De Jesus’ system that has won 11 championships already, La Salle breezed its way to a 13-1 card, including two sweeps against defending champion National University.
“Syempre La Salle is La Salle,” Laure said. “Kumbaga, may system sila na matibay. Ipapakita din namin yung system namin sa UST. Of course, lagi naman pag La Salle at UST, parang may rivalry na rin siya dati, diba? So motivating pa rin kasi syempre maggaling silang lahat, kahit naman yata sinong player doon sa La Salle.
“I mean respect and alam namin na pinaghahandaan na rin kami ngayon pa lang or maybe yesterday pa.”
