In her first two years in the UAAP, Ej Laure has always shown her talent. This season, she has also showed that she has heart.
In her team’s Final Four match-up against the De La Salle University on Saturday afternoon, things had looked grim for the third year winger as she went down at the start of the third set with an ankle sprain. It was her left ankle that bothered his this time, as her right ankle had almost given in their game against the National University Lady Bulldogs 14 days ago.
She cried and limped to the bench. Yet all 5-foot-9 of her still found the strength to get back into the game.
Although the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses lost, the marked improvement in their mentality should be cause for optimism. Laure, especially, showed the fortitude becoming of a champion.
The former Rookie of the Year acknowledged her penchant for quickly getting back up from ankle sprains. While sheer motivation to get back into the Final Four helped her stand up against NU, Laure got a little help from her father Eddie against La Salle.
“Oo, nag-tape. Nagte-tape talaga siya ng paa,” Laure said about her father, Eddie Laure, who rushed from the stands to the bench to attend to her.
“Ang sabi niya, ‘wag ko daw isipin na nangyari ang sprain, gawin ako ang laro ko.
“Parang noong lumabas ako gusto ko ulit bumalik kahit masakit pa kaya pinilit ko talaga,” the 19-year-old continued.
Laure finished with 14 points in her first Final Four match.
With two season left in her collegiate career, the second generation athlete is determined to get back to this stage and go even further.
“Maghahanda kami for next year.
“Siyempre, hindi na lang Final Four ang goal. Kailangan more na,” she vowed.
