CHICAGO - After more than a year of inactivity from the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), Eya Laure started 2026 by pitching her tent with the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
Whether the partnership will lead to a team coronation remains to be seen. But one thing is certain. The decorated former UST Tigress team captain just secured for herself a pot of gold.
READ Eya Laure opens 2026 with blockbuster Choco Mucho move
Per multiple sources, Laure got a staggering three-year deal worth P620,000 a month from the popular chocolate snack bar brand owned by biscuit giant Rebisco.
All that money. Hard earned. And well-deserved.
A person with direct knowledge of the situation told me that several teams, including Cignal, Capitol1 and Farm Fresh, gave Choco Mucho a wild run for its money.
BIDDING WAR.
The bid, I was told, supposedly began at P350,000 a month before crawling slowly up to P400k, P450k and P550k until the Flying Titans were alone at P620k.
Attempts to reach Choco Mucho team manager Rollie Delfino were unsuccessful as of posting time.
"Grabe," a rival executive said in a telephone interview on Sunday morning. "But pwede naman because she is a great player and a game-changer."
"This helps explain why Rebisco released a lot of players lately. Siguro they were making room for Eya and her hefty salary," the executive added.
Laure's long layoff due to a non-compete clause in her previous contract with the now-disbanded Chery Tiggo franchise obviously did not give the Flying Titans pause.
And rightly so.
The 5-foot-10, 170-lb spiker is a relentless attacker who hits the ball with the ferocity and anger of a jealous lover.
And at age 26, she is just approaching her prime.
THE NEXT "IT GIRL" OF THE PVL?
With outside hitter Caitlin Viray, middle blocker Jaila Atienza and setter Alina Bicar already on the roster, Choco Mucho is already formidable.
But there's no doubt Laure is the shining, shimmering star.
Not only that, Eya could be the next face of the Rebisco volleyball empire to follow in the footsteps of the great Alyssa Valdez of Creamline.
Money can't buy happiness, but for P630,000 every 30 days, the Fying Titans just got both the credibility and stability to become perennial PVL title contenders.
This is not a good deal. It's a great deal.
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