University of Santo Tomas homegrown players Imee Hernandez and Eya Laure have been playing together since 2014, donning the black, gold, and white in the UAAP High School Girls’ Division.
Seven years after, the two young guns from España just took their tandem to the highest possible level of volleyball play in the country.
This as the two are already part of the women’s volleyball national team “in principle” for the 2021 Southeast Asian Games.
Teaming up with her Ate Eya in the national team, the 20-year-old Hernandez is glad to share the taraflex with her mentor since she was in eighth grade.
“I’m really glad po na this time, sa national team naman po namin maipapakita kung ano po ang kaya namin mai-contribute sa team,” said 5-foot-10 middle blocker.
The duo goes way back and in their seven years of backing each one up in games, they have amassed three podium finishes in the UAAP.
They were part of the UST Junior Tigresses squad that nabbed silver finishes in Seasons 78, 79, and 80.
With a lot of years spent side by side, Hernandez, the 2019 PVL Collegiate Conference’s second best middle blocker, really looks up to Laure, whom she also considers as a mentor.
“Since then, si Ate Eya na po yung guma-guide sa akin at tumutulong sa akin when it comes to everything po,” said the second-year student taking up Tourism Management.
“Yung bond po namin it’s like literal na magkapatid na. Everytime na nakikita niya akong malungkot, nada-down, or kahit ano pa, nandiyan po siya to cheer me up and give me reasons to continue.”
And with her first stint in the women’s national team on the horizon, the Baliuag, Bulacan native can’t wait to wear the red, white, and blue.
“Super happy and excited because to represent the country is the ultimate dream and goal.”
