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After a lengthy layoff, Eya Laure is set to make her Premier Volleyball League comeback with Choco Mucho.
From the comfort of her grandparents’ home in Bulacan, Eya Laure breathed a sigh of relief as the clock struck midnight on January 1.
After nearly two years away from the Premier Volleyball League, the star outside hitter was set for a fresh start with the Choco Mucho Flying Titans — an announcement that went live on social media after countless teasers leading up to the new year.
Amid all the fireworks, car horns and motorcycles revving through the streets, Eya finally found clarity on her next chapter, following her contract row with the Chery Tiggo EV Crossovers that reportedly included a non-compete clause.
“Nandoon ako sa grandparents ko sa Bulacan [when the announcement came in], then sinabi ko, pinakita ko lang sa kanila. Syempre, kahit sila, ang tagal din nilang nagtatanong sa akin, and hindi ko rin naman agad masagot kasi ‘yung mga time na ‘yun, hindi pa doon ‘yung focusko,” Eya told The GAME in an exclusive interview.
“So ayun, ‘yung time na nasabi ko na sa kanila, parang sobrang saya lang din nila na makikita lang ulit nila ako na maglalaro sa PVL.”
But why Choco Mucho? Beyond the team’s support and a chance to learn a new system, what really convinced Eya was her long-standing partnership with fellow UST icon Sisi Rondina.
“Straight to the point, si Ate Sisi [Rondina]. Gusto ko talaga siyang makasama ulit,” Eya said, having led UST to the UAAP volleyball finals with Rondina back in Season 81.
“Ate Sisi’s been part of my volleyball career sa UST, syempre sa national team [Alas Pilipinas], and nakita ko ‘yung paano kami mag-work together, kung paano namin i-push ‘yung isa’t isa, that’s why si Ate Sisi ‘yung parang naging big factor din.”
Although other teams sent feelers to Eya, the opportunity to continue her partnership with Rondina was too good not to pass up.
“Siya talaga ‘yung makakasama ko sa loob na court na kilala ako, kilala niya kung paano ako. Kung magagalit ako, or pangit ‘yung laro ko, or kailangan ko ng push talaga,” Eya said of her and the Cherry Bomb’s partnership.
Still, even with an ideal team situation, the waiting game was far from easy for Eya Laure.
When one door closes…
Having been a student-athlete since high school, before turning pro with Chery Tiggo, training and game days made up most of Eya Laure’s days as an athlete. But due to her situation, those half-day practices and weekly game days suddenly disappeared.
“Nakaka-experience ako ng [break], pero hindi ‘yung ganon kahaba na parang wala akong commitment kahit saan. Medyo bago talaga ‘yan sa akin,” Eya shared. “Kasi syempre, nung UST ako, aral muna tapos training sa gabi, so ganoon ‘yung naging routine ko hanggang after ng UST ko.”
“Then nag-training ako sa Chery, almost half-day ‘yung nacoconsume sa araw namin. Same with national team na tuloy-tuloy ‘yung nangyayari sa buhay ko,” she added.
As she was forced to step away from the court, inevitable thoughts of self-doubt crept in, even if her passion for volleyball remained burning.
“So nanibago talaga ako, and syempre dumating sa point na nagtatanong ako kung ano pang purpose ko ba, kung anong purpose noong nangyayari sa life ko,” she reflected.
But as they say, when one door closes, another opens. In Eya’s case, multiple doors opened amid her layoff, coming in the form of opportunities that pushed her outside her comfort zone.
While waiting for her PVL comeback, Eya was given the chance to try new ventures, such as news anchoring for Frontline Pilipinas, walking the runway during Bench Fashion Week, and receiving increased opportunities as a content creator.
“I’m just blessed din talaga na hindi ako pinapabayaan ni Lord, kasi sa lahat ng mga napagdaanan ko, may mga new doors na bumukas para sa akin, like ‘yung pag-host ko, or na-experience ko ‘yung maging sportscaster. Then na-experience ko mag-model, rumampa,” said Eya, who was also an ambassador for the FIVB Men’s World Championship last year.
Even as she explored new ventures, Eya continued to keep herself in shape. Three-hour gym sessions remained part of her morning routine, while being in the national team gave her the chance to compete in international tournaments.
The Alas Pilipinas coaching staff, Eya said, were instrumental to refining her game throughout free agency, and even devoted some time for one-on-one training sessions.
“Nag-double training din kami ni Ate Jia [de Guzman] sa national team for two or three months before mag-SEA Games…sobrang thankful lang din ako sa kanya kasi we bring out each other’s best during training,” Eya shared.
“Thankful lang din ako sa coachesko sa national team that time na talagang sinusubukan nila akong ihabol. Sinusubukan nila akong tulungan para pagdating ng national team period, hindi ako malalayo sa mga teammates ko. And, of course, sa mga international leagues na nasasalihan namin.”
The PVL didn’t leave Eya’s sights either, as she continued to follow the league as a spectator. Often used to sharing the court with her peers, watching from the sidelines made her realize their impact as role models to young athletes.
“I think [na-realize ko] kung paano talaga nakaka-impact, nakaka-inspire ‘yung mga players sa PVL. And malaking bagay para sa mga kabataan na nag-dream din na makalaro sa PVL,” Eya reflected.
She adds, “I would say, syempre, kung ako na nakapahinga, hindi ako tumigil mag-training, hindi ako tumigil na matuto. ‘Yun siguro yung advice ko sa kanila [young athletes] na just continue dreaming and huwag lang mag-give up, lalo pag dumating ‘yung mga mahihirap na moments.”
Ultimately, Eya Laure’s time away gave her the chance to learn more about herself, while forming a deeper appreciation of the little things around her.
“‘Yung mga simpleng bagay, ‘yung mga tao na nakikita ko sa paligid ko, mas na-appreciate ko talaga…kasi sila nga, noong time na nagtatanong ako ng purpose ko sa life, parang naiisip ko na ‘sila nga may ginagawa sila everyday, pero ako, naghahanap ako ng gagawin ko’,” she reflected.
“So ano pa ba ‘yung pwede kong gawin, or ano pa ba ‘yung pwede ko na ma-develop man lang sa sarili ko? Kung how I think, or kung ano ‘yung perspective ko sa buhay.”
As Eya puts it, her time away from the sport gave her the chance to prioritize herself first, allowing for some self-healing, while re-learning how to show up no matter the circumstances.
“At the end of the day, ikaw lang din makakaintindi sa sarili mo, ikaw lang din ang bubuo ng pangarap mo,” she said. “You learn how to stand up alone, so that if you can stand up alone, kaya mong masama ‘yung mga taong nasa paligid mo on how you bring yourself up.”
A fresh, sweet start
Having braved through the uncertainties, Eya Laure heads back to the PVL bringing renewed confidence, and the motivation to make up for lost time with Choco Mucho.
“Malungkot ako [during her time-off] kasi wala akong team, hindi ko makalaro ‘yung mga ka-teammates ko sa national team, ates ko, idols ko. But ginawa ko siyang motivation na gusto ko pagbalik ko, I will be more confident in myself sa katawan, at tsaka sa performance,” she says.
Along with the Titans’ fun-loving culture, familiarity has also been instrumental to Eya’s quick adjustment. Aside from Rondina, Eya also reunites with fellow UST batchmates Caitlyn Viray and Alina Bicar.
As early as now, Eya is confident that their chemistry will do wonders for Choco Mucho.
“Kapag tinginan pa lang, nagegets namin kung anong kailangan at kung ano ‘yung sinasabi namin, so I think ‘yun ‘yung isang edge pag nagkasabay kami sa loob ng court. Alam din namin kung paano i-temper ‘yung bawa’t isa pag may nawawala, or may naeexcite,” she reflected.
On the other hand, Eya will also play Maddie Madayag, Kat Tolentino, and Deanna Wong, a part of the Ateneo team that denied UST the title in Season 81.
“Hindi mo din talaga masasabi ang panahon eh. Pero I’m justhappyna syempre, kami ‘yung nagkatapat ng [UAAP] finals andkami din ngayon ‘yung magkasama. I think kung paano sila maglaro na sobrang eager, sobrang hungry, malaking bagay ‘yun para i-push namin ‘yung isa’t isa pataas,” Eya said.
Eya will begin her Choco Mucho journey in the 2026 All-Filipino Conference starting on January 31. While expectations are high, the former UST star is choosing to take things in stride, knowing that this is just the first step of building a title contender with the Flying Titans.
For now, it’s a matter of ensuring Choco Mucho’s return to the podium, especially after falling short multiple times since the 2024 All-Filipino Conference.
“Ito ‘yung unang conference namin and marami pang conference na darating…syempre kahit saang team naman ako pumunta, nafe-feel ko naman din na lagi kaming lumalapit, laban talaga hanggang dulo,” Eya said.
“And ‘yun lang talaga, sana yung mga supporters namin maging patient lang din sila sa amin, kasi kami naman, we all want to have the title. That’s the goal of each and every team, and we’re very optimistic na makukuha din namin ‘yun.”
Though it wasn’t the ideal road to a comeback, Eya Laure’s comeback is now set in stone, being given the chance to start anew, accompanied by the comfort of playing with familiar faces.
“Hindi naman naging madali ‘yung napagdaanan ko for the past year, so sobrang nakakatuwa lang and I feel blessed lang na may team pa rin na kumuha sa akin, and may nakikita pa rin sila sa akin.”
Banner images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.