Eya Laure relishes first pro faceoff with 'Ate' Rondina

In a thrilling match on Saturday, Choco Mucho and Chery Tiggo battled fiercely for seventh place in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference. The Flying Titans emerged victorious, securing a straight-set win over their opponents in an intense showdown.

However, beyond the result, this game held special significance as it marked the first time that former University of Santo Tomas (UST) standouts, Sisi Rondina and Eya Laure, faced off on the volleyball court.

Alongside the two volleyball superstars, several other former Golden Tigresses also took the court. Among them were Crossovers' EJ Laure and Imee Hernandez and Flying Titan Caitlin Viray, all of whom had once played together during their college days at UST.

Rondina, a senior player during Eya and Hernandez's time at UST, couldn't help but feel proud seeing her former teammates take different paths in the PVL. 

Reflecting on their journey, Rondina shared, "It feels like a transition from our time at UST. It's heartwarming to witness our former teammates grow in their respective teams and see their maturity in the game."

Viray, too, echoed Rondina's sentiments, reminiscing about their time as college teammates. 

"It's like going back to our college days. It's nostalgic. Of course, we miss playing together on the same side of the court, but now we face each other as opponents. It's just delightful to see that we all have our own paths now," said Viray.

Rondina and Laure had been formidable teammates back in UAAP Season 81, leading the Tigresses to an impressive silver finish. Despite their outstanding performance, they fell just short of the crown, losing to Ateneo de Manila University in a hard-fought three-game series.

Since then, Laure made the leap to PVL after Season 85, which concluded just last May, while Rondina returned to indoor play after focusing on beach volleyball for the past four years.

Having shared the court as teammates in the past, Laure shared that there is still a sense of familiarity in the gameplay of Rondina and Viray. 

"It's heartwarming because even though we're now playing in different teams and leagues, there's still that feeling of 'she'll definitely take that shot' or something similar. I'm happy for them, and I'm glad to have my sister on the same team, along with Imee. It's a healthy competition," said the younger Laure.