One of the last UAAP Volleyball Championships the University of Santo Tomas won featured promising stars Ej and Eya Laure.
The sister connection brought the UST Junior Golden Tigresses the UAAP Season 76 Girls’ Volleyball championship with Ej named Season Most Valuable Player while Eya was the Best Setter.
After injuries and a shift in the country’s academic policy, the Laure sisters may finally get their chance to weave the same magic for the Golden Tigresses.
Eya has been marvelous in her first run in the seniors division, leading UST to the PVL semis before falling to an experienced FEU Lady Tamaraws.
Ej, on the other hand, is finally on the road back to the court after a recurring right shoulder injury kept her on the sidelines since December 2017.
The sisters are excited at the prospect of their on-court reunion once the UAAP Season 81 Women’s Volleyball tournament begins on February 2019.
The younger Laure ponders having to re-establish their relationship as teammates, separate from them being sisters.
“Super excited (ako). Siguro, isa na ‘din na excited ako kasi makakasama ko na siya ulit, pero napapaisip din ako kasi magiging senior ko siya ulit,” the 18-year old said.
“Kasi, siyempre, minsan hindi naman sa may boundaries, pero ate ko siya. Kahit na may ganoon naman, pag nasa loob kami ng court, walang kapatid. Magtulungan lang tayo as teammates. Wala kaming iniisip na, ‘O magkapatid tayo.’ Dapat magtulungan tayo.”
The elder Laure lauded her sister’s immediate impact in the senior’s division.
“Siyempre, sobrang proud ako na kaya niyang makipagsabayan kahit bago pa lang siya dito and parang ‘di na bago sa kanya,” the 20-year old thought.
However, UST head coach Kungfu Reyes stresses that Ej will have to earn her spot back on the team. Ej missed the entire UAAP Season 80 and was not training with the team for a stretch of time.
With several rookies set to make their debut for UST, roster spots for Season 81 are scarce.
“Chances meron kasi nag-enroll, basta ang importante naka-enroll. Naka-enroll na siya,” said Reyes of his longtime ward.
“Depende na ‘yun kung ano ang progress ng training niya pero siyempre iko-consider namin si EJ kasi talagang gustong-gusto maglaro ng bata.
“Pero ang tinitignan ko diyan, parang Michael Jordan ba na medyo matagal nawala, so baka kinakalawang so kailangan bugbugin ulit sa ensayo,” he closed.
