Eya and EJ Laure have never shared the same court over the past three years.
Injuries and a sudden shift in the academic policy delayed the much-awaited reunion of the Laure sisters, who first made the rounds in the UAAP high school volleyball division. There, they led UST to the promised land.
But on Sunday, the long wait finally ended.
Eya has now joined her older sibling, EJ – who returned to competitive action exactly two weeks ago – in the 2019 PVL Collegiate Conference. The two suited up for the Golden Tigresses in a match against TIP, marking their first official game together since 2016.
“Ito na yung year ng dalawa na officially collegiate level na magkasama sila,” UST mentor Kungfu Reyes beamed.
Though the sisters only played in the first and third sets, the Laure connection was undeniably on full display.
Reminiscent of her role in high school playing alongside her older sister, the 20-year-old UST sophomore flaunted her setter-spiker skills. She complimented EJ, who is still groping for form in preparation for the UAAP.
“Siyempre, malaking bagay din kasi kahit sabihin mo namang madami akong na-experience, iba pa din yung may guidance ka, na may Ate ka sa loob ng court,” the UAAP Season 81 Rookie of the Year bared.
While Eya finished with a game-high eight markers, EJ only managed a point in the straight-set conquest. Still, the former pointed out that her older sister provides more than just scoring on the taraflex.
“Iba pa din yung feeling kasi merong nagre-remind sa’yo and merong tumutulong para mapanataling buo yung mga naglalaro sa loob,” Eya shared.
For the elder Laure, she acknowledges the attention their tandem had gotten over the years. But she assured that the pressure will not get through them; instead, they’ll be using it as a motivation to perform to the best of their abilities.
“Para sa akin, namo-motivate ako kasi siyempre kaming dalawa na, so parang Laure sisters na ‘di ba?” said the elder Laure.
“At the same time, nacha-challenge kami para ipakita ‘yung best namin sa maraming tao.”
At the end of the day, the most important thing for the sisters is that they can now share the same court again.
“Iba pa rin yung teammate sa teammate at tsaka yung magkapatid kami sa loob ng court,” EJ confided.
“Alam talaga namin kung ano yung galaw ng isang tao. So yun, mas madali na sa amin kapag nasa loob kami.”
