MANILA — Eya Laure was left speechless after UST Golden Tigresses star Angge Poyos suffered an ankle injury yesterday during the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Finals.

Laure, who was in attendance together with her fellow former Tigresses stars, her sister, Eya, and Sisi Rondina, saw firsthand how Poyos fell in the second set after she landed on the foot of teammate Em Banagua. 

Fomer UST Tigresses stars Sisi Rondina and EJ and Eya Laure. Photo from Rom Anzures, ABS-CBN News.

"Katabi ko si Ate Sisi kahapon at naiyak ako kasi nangyari yung ganung unfortunate event na hindi naman natin kontrolado," she told reporters following their victory against the Petro Gazz Angels on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

READ: Eya Laure takes charge as Chery Tiggo outlasts Petro Gazz to remain in bronze medal hunt

"'Di ko alam yung sasabihin ko. Naiyak talaga ako nung nakita ko yun, ‘Di ko alam kung ano yung mafe-feel ko, parang nag flashback, parang yung Game 2 ng Season 81."

Laure was pertaining to the Finals of Season 81 against the Ateneo Blue Eagles wherein she suffered an ankle injury in that series' Game 2. And while she managed to return in the decider, Laure was far from her best in Game 3 which the Blue Eagles went on to win.

READ: Blow for UST as Angge Poyos suffers ankle injury

READ: Reyes challenges Tigresses to step up after Poyos' injury

UST's Angge Poyos is helped back to the bench after suffering an ankle injury in the second set. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

"Para kay Angge, sana maka-recover agad siya with the help of the UST coaches, yung mga strength and conditioning coaches, yung mga doctors, mga [physical therapists] din," she said. 

But despite this unfortunate incident, Laure remains optimistic about the Tigresses’ chances. 

"Pero alam ko naman na ilalaban yan ng UST kasi hindi lang naman si Poyos ang dahilan kung bakit nasa Finals sila ngayon. Nasa Finals sila kasi teamwork ang ginawa nila, at hindi biro yun," she said. 

READ: Lady Bulldogs draw first blood as injured Poyos, UST go down in Game 1

And while she was not personally able to talk with them following UST’s loss, Laure is challenging the Tigresses to live up to the pressure instead of crumbling because of it. 

"Hindi muna. Pag talo, 'di ka makakafocus eh. Parang gusto mo agad mag work. May pain diyan, pero yung pain na yan will turn you into a hungrier player ulit. As of now, hindi ko muna sila kinausap, ibigay na natin yun sa UST coaches kasi alam naman nila paano i-handle yan," bared Laure. 

"I think, yung sa paningin namin, at nasabi naman din ni Detdet [Pepito] na, maaga na-bigay sa kanila [yung Finals appearance]. Yung iba sa kanila wala pang exposure sa Finals, tapos yung pressure kasi iba talaga pag Finals, so yakapin lang nila yung experience. Wag na nila masyadong isipin kung nasaan sila," she said.

"The more na iisipin nila yun, the more na ma pressure sila. As a young team, kailangan mas hungry sila sa new experiences," Laure continued, while also maintaining how their current situation will benefit them not only in this series but for the rest of their careers.

"Tiwala naman ako na, sa layo ng narating ng Golden Tigresses at very young team sila, talagang yung experience na nakukuha nila this championship, malaking bagay 'yon para sa volleyball career nila." 

"Babaunin nila yun sa buong buhay nila," she added.

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