JUST when Eya Laure’s pro career was taking flight in 2023, it all came crashing down just a year later after a bitter falling out with Chery Tiggo.
But after 630 days grounded by circumstance, she is airborne again as a Flying Titan.
Laure marked her long-awaited PVL return with Choco Mucho in a 25-17, 25-23, 25-20 sweep of Akari.
READ: Retooled Choco Mucho off to a flying start in PVL All-Filipino
Her 11-point, nine-reception, five-dig performance stood in sharp contrast to the long and uncertain road that led her back.
In the aftermath of her comeback, Laure reflected on the difficult stretch that followed her highly-publicized separation from the Crossovers, a saga that ultimately altered the course of her professional career.
Initial reports at the time indicated that Laure formally sought a contract release from Chery Tiggo.
While the request was granted, a non-compete clause believed to be effective for about a year came into play and effectively barred her from signing with any of the team’s direct rivals and placing her career on hold in her prime.
Former team manager Aaron Velez later revealed that both sides attempted to reach an amicable settlement but failed to reach one, leaving Laure sidelined for nearly two years as the league continued on without her.
Whether Laure intended to leave Chery Tiggo outright or hoped to eventually regain stability amid what became a drawn-out and highly publicized dispute remains a gray area.
What became unmistakably clear, however, was how deeply she valued loyalty — both to the team that first entrusted her at the professional level and to the relationships she built along the way.
That loyalty, she admitted, was tested by circumstances beyond her control.
“May loyalty naman talaga ako. Loyal ako, pero ‘di mo rin kasi alam ‘yung magiging kapalaran mo,” Laure told SPIN.ph.
Her prolonged absence from league play following the difficult separation planted seeds of doubt, leaving her to question whether she could still be the same feared scorer she once was.
“Mahirap na hindi ka nakakalaro competitively nang matagal. Du’n nabuo ‘yung doubt kasi siyempre, ‘yung mga kasama ko, ‘yung mga kasabayan ko, ‘yung mga kalaro ko dito, nakakalaro sila ng PVL eh,” Laure admitted.
“Eh ako, kailan na ba? Almost two years nga ‘yung absence ko.”
Her stints with Alas Women, however, became a lifeline the gave her a renewed sense of purpose and gradually restored the belief she had lost.
“Kinailangan kong harapin talaga ‘yung doubt na ‘yun, but I think part naman talaga ‘yun ng pagiging player. ‘Di na mawawala ‘yun,” Laure said.
“Kailangan mo lang siyang matutunan kung paano i-handle at kung paano yakapin.”
‘Ate Sisi’ saves the day
Laure eventually traced her decision to join the Flying Titans to a familiar presence in former University of Santo Tomas co-star Sisi Rondina.
From España to the national team, Laure knew that rediscovering her old self alongside Rondina would make navigating a new chapter far easier.
“Nandito ako ngayon na kasama siya and I would say it feels relaxing kasi alam mo naman na kapag mag-off ka man o hindi ka magiging perfect sa game, alam mong nandyan siya,” Laure said.
“May ganun kami na, ‘okay, kung wala kang receive today, ako magre-receive sa’yo. Kung wala akong palo, ikaw pumalo.”
“That kind of understanding calms the situation for us. ‘Yung fire namin towards the game, towards our work ethic, du’n talaga nagsisimula.”
What makes their partnership even stronger is brutal honesty that has changed them both for the better.
“Si ate Sisi, prangkahan kami sa isa’t isa. Hindi kami nag-sugarcoat. We accept anything kahit masakit kasi kami ‘yung nakakakita ng paghihirap namin,” Laure said.
“Ang maganda kay ate Sisi, kahit ate ko siya, kaya niyang tumanggap sa’kin na transparent talaga kami. Sinasabi ko lagi na ‘yun ‘yung isang bagay na talagang gusto ko sa ka-teammate, ‘yung pinu-push ka pataas kahit tough man ‘yan.”
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