MANILA, Philippines – There's a good reason that fans of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) are excited to finally see Eya Laure in action in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Collegiate Conference.

For one, they waited for longer than usual to see Laure in the collegiate level. Already billed as a top recruit, the younger Laure played high school volleyball for two more years due to the K-12 system, instead of joining older sister EJ in the Golden Tigresses in Season 78.

Another reason for UST fans' excitement? They are getting a player who can legitimately play not one, not two, but three different positions at a high level.

Laure was the Best Setter in the UAAP girls' volleyball tournament in Season 76. The very next year, she won Best Spiker honors. Even as a college player, Laure can conceivably play as a setter, as an open hitter, or as an opposite spiker.

"Noong Grade 7 ako, setter-spiker ako. Noong Grade 8 ako, setter lang ako noon. Grade 9, nag-setter/opener. Grade 10, setter/utility," Laure said on Wednesday, recounting the shift in her positions over her high school career.

"So depende na rin talaga," she said. "(Usually) setter/utility. Pero most of the time, utility ako nagagamit."

Right now, Laure said she is most comfortable as a utility spiker, and indeed UST coach Kungfu Reyes often puts her in that position during their PVL games.

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On Wednesday, however, Laure played a bit of setter in the third set of their game against University of Perpetual Help. Laure was credited with just one excellent set, but showed plenty of promise in playing as setter.

"First time din na kinabahan ako… hindi naman kaba. Pero siyempre, sa training kasi, pinagse-set nila ako. Pero 'yun nga, since kakabalik ko pa nga lang ulit after three weeks noong Friday, sa training hindi pa ulit ako nakaka-set. Pero sa tune-ups, pinagse-set niya ako sa tune-ups," said Laure, who is still recovering from a right shoulder injury.

Is she willing to play the setter position full time for UST, though?

"Sobrang daming choices (ng team) sa setter," said Laure, pointing out that they still have veteran Alina Bicar and rookies Maji Mangulabnan and Maria Fe Galanza. "So parang mas nakikita ko ang sarili ko as opposite hitter."

"Last (resort) ako, last talaga," she stressed. "Pag sobrang kailangan ng tall line-up, ganyan."

"Sobrang back-up, back-up, back-up sa lahat ng setter," she added.

If Reyes sees it fit to put her in as a playmaker, however, Laure said she has no problem with it. Having waited for so long to suit up for UST in the collegiate level, the young star is determined to do anything and everything to help the Golden Tigresses succeed.

"Basta ako naman, ipe-prepare ko 'yung self ko talaga kung saan ako makakatulong sa team," she said.

"'Yun naman talaga ang gusto kong gawin, kung ano 'yung dapat kong gawin para lang manalo, or kung ano 'yung pwedeng maka-tulong sa mga teammates ko, okay lang kahit ano," she promised.

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