Eya Laure delivers in Alas Pilipinas’ epic AVC semifinal win

Alas Pilipinas famous person Eya Laure all through the AVC Nations Cup semifinals in opposition to Chinese Taipei. –AVC PHOTO

SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas at AVC Nations Cup FINAL

MANILA, Philippines — When Alas Pilipinas used to be getting ready to heartbreak in Hanoi, Eya Laure got here to save lots of the day and despatched the ladies’s nationwide volleyball program to its first-ever Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) gold medal fit in 64 years.

Alas discovered a hero in Laure within the 5th set as she scored six of her 9 issues to disclaim Chinese Taipei’s comeback, 25-17, 25-21, 18-25, 15-25, 15-12, and ebook a historical price ticket to the general on Friday evening at Dong Anh Arena.

HIGHLIGHTS: Alas Pilipinas vs Chinese Taipei AVC Nations Cup semifinals

“She has enough maturity to handle pressure and she knows the team trusts her. She has always been a key player in her career,” Alas trainer Jorge Souza De Brito informed Inquirer Sports.

Her heroics arrange a winner-take-all recreation in opposition to host and protecting champion Vietnam on Saturday evening — this system’s first finals look because the 1997 Southeast Asian Games.

The nationwide staff mainstay since 2019 could have performed sparingly within the first 4 units and best just lately returned from a protracted PVL hiatus after parting techniques with Chery Tiggo final yr.

READ: Alas Pilipinas ends lengthy drought, reaches AVC Nations Cup ultimate

But she proved to be one of the crucial nation’s maximum dependable hitters and a pacesetter for this younger workforce, along captain Jia De Guzman and veteran libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig.

After serving to the staff to a 10-7 get started within the 5th, Laure’s assault used to be blocked because the Taiwanese lower the result in only one.

During a timeout, she didn’t recoil, shouting, “One stop tayo (just one stop)!”

Laure then delivered a key hit to ship Alas to check level, prior to Bella Belen sealed the win with a dramatic spike — to start with known as out — that used to be overturned through De Brito’s problem, revealing the ball had touched Yeh Yuh-Wen’s fingertip.

“Eya is a very talented and tested player since her younger years, playing for UST and her previous PVL team,” stated De Brito.

The University of Santo Tomas standout used to be the primary to report back to Alas coaching amid the busy UAAP and PVL seasons.

Her willpower and persistence coaching by myself with the training body of workers paid off, as she helped lead Alas to its easiest AVC end, surpassing final yr’s bronze medal run.

“Even though she wasn’t able to play this last season, she’s been with Alas, training with all the coaching staff,” De Brito added. “I’m so happy for her comeback — but much more proud because we won as a team.”