Bali Pure head coach Roger Gorayeb wears his heart on his sleeve
While it doesn’t take much for the veteran head coach to get sentimental, rarely does Gorayeb outright admit his total admiration for a team he coaches. Such was the case when Gorayeb faced the media after the Bali Pure Purest Water Defenders succumbed to the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors in the Finals.
Rather expressing regret or pointing out why his team lost, Gorayeab simply praised his team.
Made up of a mix of Gorayeb’s former players from the National University Lady Bulldogs, the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Lady Stags, and the PLDT Home Ultera Ultra Fast Hitters, blended with American Jennifer Keddy and beloved balik-import Jeng Bualee, Bali Pure showed surprisingly seamless chemistry.
They topped the elimination round but, ultimately, ran into a dynasty-bound Pocari Sweat.
Despite the lack of preparation time, Gorayeb gushed about his team’s performance.
“Lahat ng players ko dito simple lang. Payak lang talaga ang intensyon nila para maglaro para sa akin. Gusto nilang magkakasama sila, gusto nilang maglaro para sa akin, gusto ko silang i-coach,” mused the most decorated coach in NCAA and PVL history.
“Walang nagtanong sa kanila kung magkano ‘yung suweldo, wala silang ego about sa playing time. Basta they’re happy to play with each other. That’s all that matters.
“Sobrang ganda ng samahan ng team na ‘to. Sana lahat ng team ko ganito,” he furthered.
The only coach to win all three PVL titles in a conference, Gorayeb is hopeful that the team stays together for the Philippine Cup, which begins on July 1.
“Hopefully we stay together. Siyempre, hindi natin alam kung anong mangyayare. Hindi na ako ang coach ng NU. Ayaw ko naman kausapin agad ‘yung mga bata kasi malungkot pa sila sa talo,” shared Gorayeb, who left his post with the Lady Bulldogs two months ago.
“Pero sana kami pa rin kasi alam kong may maibubuga pa ako.”
