“Aangat na kami. Umangat na nga kaunti, ‘di ba? Para sa akin, umangat na ‘yan.”
These were the words of head coach Roger Gorayeb after Capital1’s opening game in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference – a four-set loss to Akari last Thursday.
The Solar Spikers then walked the talk on Tuesday evening with a stunner over defending champion Petro Gazz, scoring a sweet sweep, 26-24, 25-20, 25-18, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
After the wild upset, Gorayeb was brimming with pride.
(C) PVL Images
“Masayang-masaya ako kasi who would have ever thought na maii-straight (sets) namin?” said Gorayeb as his team matched their win total from the last conference after going 1-10 in the All-Filipino.
“They’re always looking at us as a low-level team, tapos maka-straight sets kami against a more experienced team? Malaking bagay sa amin ‘yun, morale-booster sa mga bata ‘yun.”
With Capital1 approaching six months since it was formed, the charismatic tactician expressed his satisfaction with this group of players, who are all “coachable” and have improved significantly over a short period.
In the previous conference, the Solar Spikers’ lone win came against Strong Group, which went winless throughout the tournament.
“You cannot quantify it. Sobra sila ngayon. Sobra. There are so many people having side comments, they are so impatient they never think that this is a less than six months team,” said Gorayeb on his retooled team by getting three rookies in the draft and signing some free agents.
He added, “Even the national team, pick all the big players, pagsama-samahin mo and you play outside of the country – they will never win.
“We need more time. What do I expect in a very short time I have these players with me? What can I expect in the future? The best team that I can form,” he declared.
“I don’t want to brag, I just want to be simple enough that everybody, let them say good things to us. But my players are all good players, all coachable. Ano pang poproblemahin ko?”
(C) PVL Images
Everything clicked for Capital1 against Petro Gazz as Russian import Marina Tushova found her rhythm with 24 points, along with 10 digs and nine receptions.
Jorelle Singh and Des Clemente each contributed nine points, while Julia Ipac and Leila Cruz chipped in five apiece. The Solar Spikers also capitalized on 23 free points from the Angels’ errors.
Gorayeb credited veteran Iris Tolenada for the shocker. She delivered 15 excellent sets, a significant improvement from her 10 excellent sets in four sets against the Chargers.
“They played freely. Hindi ko sila pinapakialamanan, especially the setter. Mag-isip ka, bahala ka. If there’s something wrong with the game, I’ll take them out. But fortunately, everyone played well, including our two liberos, Roma Mae Doromal and Rica Rivera,” Gorayeb said.
“Syempre, yung experience namin last game na we almost won the second set but the breaks didn’t go our way, now we don’t need the breaks. The players themselves know what to do, kaya magaan kaming nanalo ngayon.”
