HOME is where the heart is — and it will always be in España for former University of Sto. Tomas hotshot Eya Laure.
Not only was España her collegiate stomping grounds where she led UST to the UAAP Season 81 finals on top of her Rookie of the Year and Best Outside Hitter nods, but it was the place where her UAAP volleyball journey began in the juniors ranks at age 15.
READ: Kungfu Hustle: Coach wins two five-setters with UST, Chery in two days
Following her 26th birthday bash on Friday where she led Chery Tiggo’s five-set win over Petro Gazz, Laure took the time to celebrate the Tigresses’ fiery early-season form.
The Tigresses have been on a tear in Season 86 and now eight games unbeaten in what she described as UST’s “post-Eya Laure era” — one ruled by undersized stars with an overflowing passion to fight for the UST community.
"Siyempre masayang-masaya ako sa aking mga babies kasi sinasabi ko sa inyo, ‘Mini Miss U’ man ‘yun pero ‘yung heart nila, ang laki-laki talaga. Masaya ako sa post-Eya Laure era na sinasabi nga nila kasi ‘yun nga ‘yung sinasabi ko na kahit umalis ako, kaya kayong ipaglaban niyan.
"Hindi kayo papabayaan ng mga batang ‘yan at for sure, sa bawat sigaw niyo, sa bawat suporta niyo sa UST, nandyan sila para lumaban hangga’t kaya nila,” said Laure.
“Intindihin niyo lang nung mga past few games kasi prelims ngayon sa UST so pagpasensyahan at mahalin niyo lang sila kasi for sure, mamahalin din kayo niyan talaga at nakikita naman natin ‘yun,” she added.
‘Yes’ sweep?
From her UAAP days to the pro ranks in Premier Volleyball League (PVL), Laure has carried the reputation of being a ‘streak-buster’ on social media since she exclaimed the phrase ‘no sweep’ as UST dealt La Salle its first loss of Season 85 — which would turn out to be the Lady Spikers’ only defeat of that entire title-winning campaign.
Laure’s Chery Tiggo side also emerged as the culprit that ended not only defending champion Creamline’s 19-game win streak but also snapped their five-year run without a straight-sets loss in the PVL.
Fans were quick to make Laure’s ‘no sweep’ tag a recurring trend online. But in an attempt to spare the Tigresses from having their 8-0 start jinxed, Laure jokingly called on fans not to use one particular meme of her which has been used on X/Twitter, in particular, when pertaining to teams whose bid to complete a match or tournament sweep were denied.
“‘Wag munang lalabas si Eya, ha? ‘Yung Eya na sumilip, ‘wag muna talaga. Alam kong alam niyo ‘yun, ‘di ba? ‘Wag muna for now. Ilaban natin hanggang dulo. Go USTe!”
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