University of Sto. Tomas ace Eya Laure is not ruling out the possibility of returning for her final year following the Golden Tigresses’ Final Four loss to De La Salle University on Wednesday night.
Laure revealed that she has yet to decide on her future in Espana as she will first focus on recovering from the team’s grueling UAAP Season 85 campaign. She also said that she trusts that head coach Kungfu Reyes will once again give her the time she needs to make a decision, just as he did prior to this season.
“Siguro yung time, time will tell kung ano yung para sa akin. Ayoko kasi magmadali, gusto ko i-open lahat ng doors muna ngayon at makikinig ako,” said Laure, who turns 25 on March 20, 2024.
“Alam ko naman na ibibigay ‘yan ni Coach Kungfu [Reyes], at hindi ko naman basta-basta sasabihin na oo, maglalaro pa ako. Hindi ko rin naman sasabihin na hindi na siguro, magpo-pro muna ako,” she added.
In what could possibly be her final game for UST, Laure delivered 15 points to go along with 12 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions in the Golden Tigresses’ 24-26, 22-25, 25-20, 19-25 loss to the twice-to-beat Lady Spikers at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Ngayon kung ano yung state ng team ngayon, syempre nandoon pa rin yung part sa puso ko na syempre gusto ko pang mag-laro,” said the UAAP Season 81 Rookie of the Year.
“Sabi ko nga kanina, kung meron akong playing year hanggang Season 100, bakit naman hindi, di ba? Pero syempre kailangan mag-move forward pa lagi sa buhay. Ngayon, wala akong binibigay na sagot,” she added.
Before Season 85, Laure’s status was up in the air as she was torn between moving up to the pros or staying in UST. She eventually came back for another tour of duty, leading the Golden Tigresses to the fourth seed with a 10-4 win-loss standing.
“Gusto ko lang muna ng time, ng time ulit, at mag-recover kung ano ‘man yung condition ng katawan ko ngayon. Yun muna, alam ko naman si Coach Kungfu, parang last season lang din, ibibigay niya naman yun sa’kin.”
