Happy Birthday, Eddie Laure ( July 6 )

Happy Birthday, Eddie Laure

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

2003 PBA Rookie Draft 3rd overall pick
2x PBA champion 12-season PBA veteran
2001 MBA champion
2001 MBA Most Valuable Player
1998 MBA Rookie of the Year

Eddie Laure, the latest addition to the Shell Turbochargers, knew this even before he made that giant leap to the country's premier basketball league the Philippine Basketball Association. When he set foot in Manila to play for the Adamson U Falcons in 1995, his heart was bent on playing real basketball. It was something that he has been dreaming of since he was still that lanky high schooler in Punta National High School in Western Mindanao a dream he has nurtured especially when he would figure in a friendly three-on-three with his brothers. Laure, the youngest in a brood of six, noted that he was already dribbling the orange ball when he was in elementary, at a time when he was also spiking volleyballs. "Pero nung second year high school na ako, dun ako nagfocus sa basketball. Pinakamatangkad kasi ako nun nang time. na yun eh," he said. In the 1995 Palarong Pambansa national championships, the 6-foot-three player was discovered by his present agent, Charlie Dy. Representing the Autonomous Region of Moslem Mindanao, Laure together with his comrades gave the National Capital Region a good beating en route. to winning the title. Soon after leading that team to the top, Laure packed his bags and found himself wearing the Adamson jersey, joining the likes of Gherome Ejercito and Dennis Madrid in the Falcons' nest. It was in 1997 when he tried his luck in the amateurs, finding himself sitting on the Red Bull bench together with Omanzie Rodiriguez, Danny Ildefonso and Lordy Tugade. The soft-spoken Laure disclosed that he wasn't given good minutes then, as most of the time he was relegated to the sidelines, warming the bench. "Kasi naman, malakas at malalim ang team namin nun. Mabibigat ang mga kasabayan ko nun," he quipped. But instead of sulking in a corner, Eddie took it on a positive note. "Challenge sa akin eh, inisip ko, siguro hindi ko pa time. Kailangan. ko pang mag-pursige at magsipag pa," he said. When the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) opened shop, Laure was tapped to become one of Batangas Blades' core. It was something that he was thankful for as well, as the MBA gave him the chance to further hone his skills, and bring his game to a higher level. But when the MBA stopped its operations, Laure found himself going back to the league that served as his springboard to the pro hoops. The just-concluded season of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) saw Laure drinking from the victor's cup, as with his help, together with Romel Adducul, Welcoat Paints' colorful tradition was extended further via a three-game sweep of Dazz Dishwashing Paste in the Challenge Cup Finals' showdown.