MANILA, Philippines – EJ Laure may not be playing for University of Santo Tomas (UST) in UAAP Season 80, but the former Rookie of the Year continues to keep tabs on the Tigresses' campaign.

Laure sat out the season due to a chronic shoulder injury, depriving UST of one of its most consistent scoring options. In her absence, Sisi Rondina has emerged as their top star and the high-leaping spiker is averaging a league-best 19.5 points per game.

But Rondina's high-scoring ways has not translated into great success for UST in Season 80. The Tigresses have won only two games this year against seven defeats. As it stands, they are likely to miss the Final 4.

• READ: Despite losses, Sisi Rondina not blaming teammates

According to Rondina, Laure has been doing what she can to keep the Tigresses' spirits up.

"Si EJ, nagcha-chat sa group namin," Rondina told reporters on Wednesday after they absorbed a straight-sets loss to Far Eastern University. "Bawi pa rin, ganun, ibuo lang daw 'yung team."

"And since ganito kami, kahit ganitong sitwasyon, kinakailangan na mas titibay pa ang loob namin and sa teammates namin," she added of Laure's message.

Laure has been rarely seen in public since she announced that she will miss Season 80 all the way back in December. She watched the Tigresses' first game of the season but has not been at a game since.

However, Rondina revealed that the open spiker visited the team in practice last Tuesday night, and appears to be doing well.

"Okay naman siya," Rondina said of Laure. "Pagaling na 'yung shoulder niya."

UST, which is in the midst of a five-game losing streak, returns to action on Saturday against University of the Philippines.

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.)