There is no denying that academic responsibilities have been a major reason for a student-athlete’s inability to participate in international competitions.
Take for example, Clare Castro of FEU. She will not be able to join Gilas Pilipinas Women’s in their campaign in the 2019 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup due to academics.
Fortunately, that isn’t the case with Eya Laure and the University of Santo Tomas.
The 20-year-old volleyball wunderkind is the lone student-athlete in the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team who will compete in the Southeast Asian Grand Prix in Nakhon Ratchasima.
But Laure can rest assured that she won’t have to worry about missing a class or two when the tournament goes into full swing.
“Alam mo naman ang UST pagdating sa ganyan [national team]… Even dati pa naman, wala pa tayo sa UST may ganyan nang tradition,” UST and National Under-23 head coach Kungfu Reyes bared.
“Siyempre calling ng bansa.
“[The university] produces national team athletes and they allow na mag-join. Yun nga yung Obiena, first Olympian,” added Reyes, who also works as a deputy of National team chief tactician Shaq Delos Santos.
The UAAP Season 81 Rookie of the Year is set to join the rest of the national team on Sunday, September 15. She will be accompanied by Creamline duo of Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado; PacificTown–Army stalwart Jovelyn Gonzaga; and Choco Mucho middle blocker Maddie Madayag.
