MANILA – Ennajie Laure’s return for University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses will have to wait after deciding to sit out the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball, which will start on Feb. 16.
Not because of injury, Laure said that she chose to skip the upcoming UAAP season to give way to the members of the Golden Tigresses who have been training since last year.
“Hindi muna ako makakabalik this Season 81 for UST,” the former UAAP Rookie of the Year said in an interview with Volleyverse. “Matagal na din kasi sila nagte-training na magkakasama.”
“Buong off-season pinaghahandaan nila ‘yung UAAP. Kundisyon sila lahat tapos ako hahabol lang? Parang unfair din ‘yun sa kanila,” added Laure, who still has a year left on her UAAP playing eligibility.
Laure last played for the Golden Tigresses in UAAP Season 79 when she led the school to its first Final Four appearance in years before losing to De La Salle University Lady Spikers in the semifinals.
The former national women’s volleyball team member was forced to skip last UAAP season after sustaining an injury. Her absence has hurt UST’s campaign to finish at seventh place in the eliminations.
Laure, however, is confident that the Golden Tigresses will have a fighting chance in the upcoming UAAP season with a mixture of veteran and rookie players, led by her younger sister Ejiya Laure.
“Puno din kasi talaga ang line-up ngayon lalo sa pwesto na pwede ako. Tapos may mga bata pa na promising din,” Laure said. “May plano din si Coach Kung Fu (Reyes) panigurado. So kumbaga, tiwala lang.”/PN
