After eight long months of recovery and anticipation, EJ Laure finally made her debut for the Nxled Chameleons in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.
For Laure, stepping onto the court again was a moment of immense relief and excitement, as she battled back from a lingering shoulder injury that had sidelined her since the 2024 Reinforced Conference.
“Yun naman talaga ang nilo-look forward ko ngayon na siyempre ma-feel ko ulit ‘yung court na ang tagal ko din nawala,” shared the former University of Santo Tomas standout following Nxled’s straight-sets loss to Farm Fresh last Saturday.
Laure’s journey to her long-awaited return was anything but smooth. After parting ways with Chery Tiggo before the All-Filipino tournament, she joined Nxled, only to find herself watching from the sidelines during the early part of the eliminations as she completed her recovery.
In her first game back, Laure started from the bench in the opening set before earning a spot in the starting lineup for the next two frames. She managed to contribute eight points, but her efforts couldn’t prevent Nxled from extending their losing streak. The Chameleons now stand at 0-6 in the standings, with their current slump dating back to last year’s Reinforced Conference, bringing their total losses to 13 straight matches.
Despite the daunting challenges, Laure remains undeterred. She has found comfort in the system of Italian head coach Ettore Guidetti, crediting her prior stints at Foton and Chery Tiggo for preparing her to adapt to different coaching styles.
“Actually, nung nasa Foton, Chery naman ako, iba-iba naman ‘yung mga coaches so parang nag-adjust din ako with their program, so hindi naman mahirap,” she explained.
Though the results have been frustrating, Laure remains optimistic about her team’s potential. She speaks highly of her teammates’ competitiveness in practice, expressing hope that their hard work will soon translate into victories.
“Sobra ‘yung potential nila na lahat talaga competitive pag sa training. Gusto ko talaga makita sa kanila ‘yung lumalaban every game na bibigyan namin sila ng fight [every game],” she said.
For Laure, the goal is clear: to bring the same intensity they show in training into their matches.
“Ang mindset ko and namin siyempre bibigay pa rin namin ‘yung best namin kasi maganda naman talaga tinatraining namin, gagawin lang namin siya sa game,” she added.
Off the court, Laure juggles her volleyball commitments with preparations for her wedding to former child star Bugoy Cariño. While she admits to occasionally missing practices due to wedding-related obligations, she has been putting in extra effort to make up for lost time.
“Hindi ako nakaka-attend minsan ng training, pero nagdo-double time ako para maka-catch up sa na-miss ko sa training. Siguro kapag kunwari may meetings regarding sa wedding after the training,” she shared.
At 27, Laure’s resilience and determination serve as an inspiration, not just to her teammates but to fans who continue to cheer for her comeback.
For Laure, every game is another step forward, a chance to reignite her career and help the Chameleons rise above their struggles.
