Ripe for the pros
Just last month, Eya Laure was on top of the world.
She was the celebrated rookie who steered University of Santo Tomas (UST) to a dramatic finals stint in Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tournament.
Sure, the Tigresses surrendered to Ateneo de Manila University, but Laure’s impact was massive.
She averaged 16.4 points per game on a sizzling 35.9 percent attacking clip to grab the Best Open Spiker award over more seasoned foes like Meann Mendez of University of the East, Desiree Cheng of De La Salle University and Tots Carlos of University of the Philippines.
She also ran away with the Rookie of the Year honor and came close behind teammate Sisi Rondina in the Most Valuable Player derby.
True enough, Laure was one of the finest athletes in collegiate volleyball.
But on a balmy Monday night, her fate completely changed. With the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference entering its crucial stretch, Foton found itself with a gaping hole on its roster after Maika Ortiz crashed with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Ortiz, also a former UST ace, is a seasoned local and international campaigner who had seen action in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian club tournaments and even the Asian Games. Her presence could have sparked the Tornadoes in their pursuit for another title since lifting the trophy in the Grand Prix of 2014 and 2015. But fate had a cruel script. Ortiz was declared done for the season and the Tornadoes needed somebody who would step up and rally them into title contention against league heavyweights Petron, F2 Logistics and Cignal. The Tornadoes didn’t look far. They activated a wide-eyed rookie whose name was written at the far end of the roster
— Laure.
Big shoes to fill
Laure admitted that being tapped by a professional club like the Tornadoes is truly overwhelming.
Foton is such an elite team.
Its heart and soul is Jaja Santiago, who is arguably the best women’s volleyball player of this generation after serving as import in the prestigious V.Premier League in Japan. Her sister, Dindin Manabat, is also a cornerstone as well as setter Gyselle Sy, libero Jen Reyes and spikers Elaine Kasilag, Shaya Adorador and Marian Buitre.
That’s why Laure entered her first game against Marinerang Pilipina with butterflies in her stomach.
“I am very happy and thankful to play for Foton because I know this is a very competitive team,” said Laure, who was activated after the Tornadoes made her a reserve player in the off-season. “I feel so blessed that I got to play in one of Philippine volleyball’s most promising teams.
In Laure’s first taste of professional action, her presence was hardly felt. She played only late in the second and third sets and converted a pair of attacks, proving that she’s still adjusting into the system of coach Aaron Velez.
Then, she had another forgettable performance when the Tornadoes eked out a four-set win over PLDT Home Fibr to march into the semifinals.
But it doesn’t matter.
Laure still has a lot to show.
“I’m always ready to up my game whenever my coaches would call my number. I am willing to step up big time,” said Laure, giving credit to people who helped her get this far.
“I’m really lucky that I’m surrounded with the best people. They are a big help to me as I enter this new chapter in my life. They really motivated me to be better because as a rookie, I’m still doubting myself if I can survive the challenges of the PSL.”
Laure doesn’t have to doubt.
She may have failed to post eye-popping numbers in her first two games, but her mere presence in the most prestigious league is already a strong testament that she’s in the upper crust of Philippine volleyball.
And remember — she just turned 20.