THE UST Golden Tigresses will have to wait longer before juniors standout Eya Laure could join them in the UAAP.
The reigning juniors MVP showed no rookie jitters in her Shakey’s V-League debut, dropping 17 points as UST routed San Beda College. She also had a game-high 18 markers in UST’s win over NCAA champs College of St. Benilde.
But Eya will still play for the junior’s squad in the upcoming UAAP season.
The high school prodigy, who was supposed to suit up for the Tigresses next year, will have to wait two more years due to the K to 12 implementation.
UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. considers Eya as the “missing link” in the Tigresses’ bid to recapture the UAAP title. They last entered the Final Four four years ago.
“Sana magsasama-sama na ‘yung products ng [UST High School.] Ito ‘yung sinasabi ko dati na in two years’ time, buhay na dapat ‘yung team, pero ngayon, maghihintay pa tayo ng two or three years pa,” Reyes said.
Reyes also believes that Eya could rekindle the fire for the Tigresses but clearly, the odds are not in España’s favor.
“Hindi naman sa nakasama pero na-delay ako dahil sa K to 12,” Eya told the Varsitarian. “Kung puwede lang sana na college na ako maglaro ngayong season kaso nga lang naiwan ako,” she added.
EJ Laure acknowledged that she would eventually be compared with her younger sister.
“Okay lang ako ma-compare sa kaniya kasi kapatid ko naman siya,” the 5-foot-9 open hitter said.“Saka sa akin naman, alam ko namang mas magaling talaga siya sakin.”
Eya remains positive that staying longer in the juniors’ league would help her improve her game even more.
“Dadalhin ko ‘yung experience and natutunan ko every game.”
“Dito kasi iba ‘yung culture ng pinaglalaruan and ibang klaseng level ‘yung laro every game,” she said.
