EYA Laure had not one, but two sister figures by her side in Choco Mucho’s statement four-set win over early title favorite Nxled on Tuesday.
One of them stood across the net.
For the first time in their careers, Eya faced biological sister EJ Laure-Carino in an official match.
READ: Choco Mucho picking steam, sends Nxled to third straight loss
EJ chipped in three points in two sets for Nxled, marking a rare chapter for the Laure siblings who had spent most of their formative years as teammates at University of Santo Tomas before briefly suiting up together at Chery Tiggo.
Seeing her sister in different colors, and as a rival, felt surreal.
“Na-miss ko siya kasama. Iba pala ‘yung feeling kapag kalaban ko siya kasi last na nakalaban ko siya, parang high school pa ako tapos college siya, nagtu-tuneup kami,” Eya shared.
“Masaya lang ako. Masaya ako na sabay kami nakakalaro until now.”
And familiarity cuts both ways. Few know EJ’s tendencies better than Eya.
“Nakakatuwa kasi kapag nakikita ko siya pumapalo, alam ko na agad kung saan siya pupunta eh. Ganun ako ka-familiar ako sa ate ko na na-miss ko na rin,” she added.
“Last kaming nagkasama is last year pa kaya parang iba lang ‘yung feeling na ate mo ‘yung kalaban mo.”
Eya's second Sisi-ster
If one sister stood across the net, another stood right beside her.
Sisi Rondina, Eya’s longtime UST teammate and self-proclaimed “Sisi-ster,” once again played her steadying presence when Laure needed it most.
“Makikita talaga na kapag nawawala ako, lagi niya akong tinatapik at lalo na rin si Ate Sisi,” Laure said.
“Nagpakurot na talaga ako sa kanya nu’ng dulo. Sabi ko, ‘Te, kurutin mo na ako.’ Hinampas niya ko, pero okay naman at effective naman siya.”
Those taps and reminders were more than in-game nudges. They were familiar comforts and the same kind EJ used to give her when they were still on the same side.
“Buti na lang, nandiyan si Ate Sisi sa side ko to tap me, kasi kung ano yung ginagawa ni Ate Sisi sa akin na pag-tap o pag-remind, ‘yun din ‘yung ginagawa sa’kin ng ate ko noon.”
On a night filled with shifting roles and rival colors, Eya still found family on both sides of the net.
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