Head coach Kungfu Reyes, Eya Laure, and most of the University of Santo Tomas women’s volleyball team go a long way with National University.
The Golden Tigresses and the opposing Lady Bulldogs are rivals since battling in high school where the latter always got the numbers and eventually took championships at the expense of the former.
Fast forward to Sunday, it was the Tigresses’ turn to take one against the defending champions.
Laure was overwhelmed at first thinking how these girls from both squads blossomed into where they are right now.
“Kaya naging emotional din ako siguro kanina kasi since high school, same lineup. Kanina, na-goosebumps din ako kasi may set na puro yung batch namin nung high school na nakikita ko. Dati, sa Adamson (Gym) lang kami naglalaro n’on. Parang nakakatuwa kasi ngayon ang dami nang nanonood sa ‘min,” shared the 23-year-old UST skipper, who was the Season MVP of the UAAP Season 78 Girls’ Volleyball Tournament.
“Dream para sa ‘min to — NU at UST — na dati wala masyadong nanonood kasi maliit lang yung venue. Ngayon, pare-parehas naming pinapakita yung potential namin sa Pilipinas, at sa mundo rin kung may nanonood sa ibang bansa. Pero sobrang happy lang din kasi ito yung masasabi namin nung rivalry namin nung high school.”
It was not the first time Laure and the Golden Tigresses have beaten NU as they were the last ones who inflicted a loss against the squad on April 27, 2019, but this time it’s very much sweeter given the history of the current batch who played on the court.
And for the second-generation Tiger, it is also a matter of mutual respect.
“Siyempre kasi with Jen (Nierva), with Princess (Robles), with Joyme (Cagande), grabe kasi yang mga leaders na yan. Nirerespeto ko rin ‘yang mga ‘yan. Syempre, nagkita-kita na kami since dati pa eh. Alam namin kung paano sila maglaro, ga’no sila kagaling kaya very happy,” said the graduating spiker.
“Kasi nung 2019, yun din yung pumasok yung batch nila Joyme, Jen, at Princess, so, syempre masaya kasi nare-recognize na kami ngayon as talagang from UAAP High School na magkalaban. Na ngayon napapakita namin sa marami kung ano ba yung merong laban pagdating talaga sa UAAP. Very happy sa win and at the same time naroon talaga yung respeto sa NU.”
