Light at the end of the tunnel
Roger Gorayeb has been through a lot over the past few months. The grizzled mentor saw his San Sebastian College-Recoletos Lady Stags blow a thrice-to-beat advantage for a second year in a row. Then, his National University Lady Bulldogs slumped out of the Final Four for the second straight year.
Last month, Gorayeb’s temper boiled over after the school accepted his resignation. The outspoken mentor went on a rant about his time at National University and how several people were doing everything to get him fired.
Walking into the PhilSports Arena press room, Gorayeb was notably relaxed after his Bali Pure Purest Water Defenders overcame the Creamline Cool Smashers in three games.
The 50-year-old head coach waxed poetic about his journey back to his comfort zone – the PVL Finals.
“Siyempre masakit para sa amin yung parang banderang kapos kami. Kami yung nauuna tapos biglang maa-out kami?” said Gorayeb.
“Sabi ko lang, they should treat it as a championship game again, and they have to talk, they are mature enough. I don’t have to tell them everything. They should work more as a team, not as an individual, sabi ko sa kanila kanina sa dugout. Ang concerted effort ng lahat, pag nagsama-sama yan, they cannot beat us.”
Gorayeb was incredibly grateful to Bali Pure for giving him a shot at coaching the team. For him, the ultimate way to repay the trust given to him is with a championship.
“Goal ko yun kasi siyempre maraming pangyayari eh bago itong tournament na ito at tsaka bago mag-umpisa, yung mga player na inaasahan kong maglalaro sa akin, hindi naglaro.
“Kaya parang, sige kunin ko na lang itong mga player ko sa college, nag-umpisa kami sa pitong player lang eh. Actually anim lang tapos sinama ko si [Iriis] Oliveros, si Jerrili [Malabanan] naman late addition na lang, two or three days before the opening na lang eh. Talagang nag-trabaho lang kami. Gusto ko rin kasi na yung Bali Pure ang sumalo sa akin, gusto ko sila dalhin sa Finals. Hopefully magtuloy-tuloy itong panalo namin,” the only Triple Crown champion in the V-League furthered.
What Gorayeb was most dismayed at was not being able to coach his former NU players in the UAAP anymore. He was especially proud of what setter Jasmine Nabor has become.
“Ang laki ng ini-improve ni Jasmine. Alam mo sa totoo lang, wala na akong masabi sa kanya. How I wish we could stay together.
“Kaso wala eh, siyempre after this. Okay lang. Sana gumaling pa siya, I wish her all the best. Siyempre wala ako doon, it’s a different coach for her. But at least I can proudly say na nadala ko si Jasmine sa ganitong position niya. Marami naman akong kinonvert na player kasi iba yung kay Jasmine kasi setter eh, na in a very short period of time, nakukuha niya na. Sana mag-improve pa siya talaga. Magi-improve pa yan,” Gorayeb remarked about the thin-framed setter.
“I want her to become one of the best setters sa atin.”
