Creamline team captain Alyssa Valdez felt elated to see her former college coach Roger Gorayeb back doing what he does best following their first encounter since 2021 on Thursday evening.
Valdez and the Cool Smashers went up against Gorayeb’s Capital1, with the defending champions scoring a dominant 25-18, 25-14, 25-15 rebound win in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“For me, being able to go up against Coach Roger in today’s game, nakaka-overwhelm kasi alam ko rin pinagdaanan niya kung paano siya nakarating ulit dito,” said Valdez.
Knowing what the multi-titled head coach went through, Valdez said that she is very excited to see what’s in store for Gorayeb and the Solar Spikers in the PVL.
The former national head coach battled multiple myeloma in 2019 and was declared cancer-free a year later. He managed to make a comeback in the 2021 Open Conference with PLDT before eventually parting ways with the team.
After a couple of years, Gorayeb returned to the PVL after being hired by Capital1 Solar Energy to head its team.
“Very, very excited kung ano pa ‘yung mararating ng team niya at mararating ni Coach Roger in this volleyball community na talagang isa na siya sa pinakamatagal dito kasi naabutan pa siya ni Coach (Sherwin) e. Coach, magpalakas at magpagaling pa,” said the three-time PVL MVP.
Valdez, who was recruited by Gorayeb from UST High School to Ateneo, revealed that she was also highly motivated against the Solar Spikers as she wanted to show Gorayeb the player she had become.
“Alam mo it’s always nice to go up against your former coaches kasi gusto mo ipakita sa kanila kung paano ka nag-improve pero minsan meron ding konting kilala na ako nito, may mga gan’un,” said Valdez.
“Tsaka, you know, one thing na binibigay ni Coach Roger sa team niya is tiwala sa mga players tsaka kitang kita mo talaga sa kanya na every point is important kasi nagre–react talaga siya sa lahat ng puntos, so madadala ka rin doon. And kitang kita rin sa players niya na binibigay lahat kung anong kaya nila.”
