The UST Tigresses’ five-set win over the NU Lady Bulldogs was no less than surprising.
What was more astonishing was UST’s comeback in the fifth set, erasing a 6-11 hole to win 15-12.
Even NU head coach Roger Gorayeb did not know what to make of his team’s late blunder. “Hindi naman ako nagkulang ng paalala sa kanila. Nataranta sila. Very simply, they lost their compoaure. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Hindi ko na alam kung ano pang sasabihin sa kanila. First set palang wala na sila composure,” an irate Gorayeb told the media.
The National Team mentor also shrugged off the notion of his team struggling down the stretch due to Jaja Santiago’s absence in the front row.
“Noong sa La Salle nakahabol kami ng wala siya sa harap. Kaya naman talaga dapat.”
One of the main factors of UST’s comeback was Jorelle Singh’s erratic play in the last points of the match. Gorayeb also expressed frustration at his open spiker’s performance but ultimately blames himself for the loss.
“Okay lang naman sa akin na kunin niya ‘yung pa-outside na bola pero dapat maibalik mo sa gitna. Eh ‘yung pagkuha niya noong bola, tumapon pa palabas,” the veteran mentor added. “Nagkataon lang din noong dulo na si Jorelle ‘yung madaming pagkakamali. Kasi team effort naman yan. Pati ako kasama diyan – responsibilidad ko ‘yung mga yan.”
“Natalo kami, kasalanan ko na lang yan. Wag na sa mga bata. Kasi baka mataranta pa sila, kung ano pa ang maisip nila. Kunyare ako na lang ‘yung naglaro sa loob,” he continued.
For as long as Gorayeb has been in the coaching business, he still hasn’t figured a way to instantly shift his team’s mentality.
“Hindi naman ako doctor pare,” Gorayeb answered when asked how he plans to shift his team’s mentality. “Sa ensayo ginagawa namin yan. Pagdating sa laro nawawala. Imbis na tumatapang sila, naduduwag sila. Di ko alam kung bakit. Nangyayare yan sa mga player na hindi exposed sa laro. Exposed naman sila.”
Moving forward, Gorayeb is still confident his team can recover.
“Kailangan baguhin nila ‘yung utak nila. Hindi puwedeng ganyan pa rin ang takbo ng pag-iisip nila.”
