UAAP volleyball matches over the last decade or so have been spiced up by strong shows of emotions such as intense staredowns, aggressive finger-pointing, or resounding yells.
'Swag' moments, if you will, as volleyball fans have coined them to be.
Twelve-time UAAP women’s volleyball champions La Salle Lady Spikers have embraced it as a signature move of sorts, as it would actually be referred to as ‘Lasallian swag.’
READ: La Salle 'swag' lights up once more thanks to Lilay Del Castillo
Outside Taft Ave., one noteworthy ex-UAAP star who isn’t afraid to show 'swag' of her own on the court — ironically against La Salle, for the most part — is former University of Santo Tomas captain and Alas Pilipinas winger Eya Laure.
Power hits aside, Laure has also been known for her fearlessness and unapologetic character on the court.
From pointing fingers at opponents after scoring a point to cheeky grins, slow turns, fierce looks, and more, she’s had a fair share of ‘swag’ moments.
“Sometimes sa 'pagsa-swag,' alam mong ‘di naman totally 'swag' lagi eh. ‘Pag nagagawa mo ‘yung bagay na ‘yun, mas napapakita mo kung ano ‘yung kaya mo,” Laure told SPIN.ph.
“‘Yun ‘yung mga tipong hindi mo naman expected, hindi rin naman din siya scripted, pero natutuwa ka lang kasi ganun mo lang i-express ‘yung sarili mo na nagawa mo ‘yung point na ‘yun para sa team.”
All part of the game
With players drawing flak for what would sometimes be described as excessive, arrogant, and disrespectful gestures, Laure went on to justify where players like her are coming from during such moments of raw emotion and candor.
Her one wish for an oft-outspoken Philippine volleyball fanbase? Cut players some slack for their ‘swag’ because there’s more than what meets the eye in terms of what triggers those gestures on the court.
“‘Pag gagawa ka ng point, imposible namang magagawa mo siya nang madali lang ‘di ba? Isang celebration na rin ‘yun para sa kanila,” Laure said.
“‘Yung pagsa-swag, hayaan na natin at ibigay na natin sa kanila ‘yun. Ganun na talaga sila mag-celebrate, so deserve naman nila ‘yun. Sila ang nakakakita kung paano sila nagsa-sacrifice at nagha-hard work sa mga ginagawa nila sa araw-araw.
“I think suportahan, ‘yun na ang pinaka-magandang magagawa natin para sa kanila.”
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