Laure UST’s Eya Laure tries to score off UP’s Lorie Bernardo and Mai Sotomil during their UAAP women’s volleyball match last Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP photo

All eyes on UST’s Laure

May 30, 2022 Theodore P. Jurado 426 views

EYA Laure has almost singlehandedly carried University of Santo Tomas in keeping afloat in the chase for the No. 2 spot in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.

In the Tigresses’ four-match winning streak bridging the first and second round, Laure has scored a combined total of 100 points.

Her amazing scoring run was highlighted by a career-high 31 points in UST’s 25-19, 25-21, 29-31, 33-31 victory over titleholder Ateneo last May 19.

Laure and the Tigresses will cross paths with the Blue Eagles again in an expected tight encounter that has major implications in the Final Four race at 10 a.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

When the chips were down, UST turned to Laure in last Saturday’s 25-20, 25-18, 24-26, 25-23 win over University of the Philippines.

Laure had to bleed to get her 25th point – committing three consecutive attack faults before securing the match winner for the Tigresses.

The words of encouragement coming from UST coach Kungfu Reyes in between rallies helped the 23-year old outside hitter to get over the hump.

“Isang parte yun para sa akin na nakakatulong kasi imagine, ilang error yun na binigay ko pero yung tiwala nandoon pa rin,” said Laure, the league’s leading scorer and a top contender for the season MVP award.

As the tournament enters the final five playdates, the Tigresses, with the roller-coaster ride having in their recent games, are bracing for a tough grind.

Sporting a 7-2 record, UST is holding a one-game cushion over La Salle (6-3) in the race for the twice-to-beat slot in either the Final Four or step-ladder format.

Powerhouse National University, which will face already eliminated University of the East in the nightcap at 6:30 p.m., remained unbeaten in nine matches and is on course of gaining an outright passage to the best-of-three Finals.

Now outside the Final Four range after last Saturday’s 25-18, 20-25, 19-25, 18-25 loss to the Lady Bulldogs, the Blue Eagles are currently tied with the Fighting Maroons at 4-5.

Adamson, which at 5-4 is clinging to a one-game lead over Ateneo and UP in the hunt for the last Final Four berth, will take on Far Eastern University at 12:30 p.m.

La Salle and UP collide at 4 p.m.

Games Tuesday;

(Mall of Asia Arena)
10 a.m. – UST vs Ateneo
12:30 p.m. – AdU vs FEU
4 p.m. – DLSU vs UP
6:30 p.m. – NU vs UE

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