Pambansang head coach, Roger Gorayeb has arguably been the busiest man in volleyball in 2015.
In January, Gorayeb took over the head coaching reins for the National University Lady Bulldogs in the UAAP while still coaching the San Sabastian College – Recoletos Lady Stags, with both squads finishing in their respective league’s Final Four. A few months later, Gorayeb manned the sidelines for the National U23 team and the Seniors SEA Games. He also led a ragtag team of players in an invitational tournament in Vietnam.
Sandwiched between all those endeavors, Gorayeb still found time to coach all of the three championship teams in the Shakey’s V-League’s 12th Season, leading PLDT to the Open Conference title last July and the Reinforced Conference plum just last Sunday, and the NU Lady Bulldogs to Collegiate Conference Gold last October.
Aside from coaching, the former Ateneo mentor is also adept at addressing the media. Gorayeb told reporters after last Sunday’s win that he was doing his best for his team to succeed so his team could remain intact.
“Di ko inisip ‘yung Triple Crown. Inisip ko manalo, para masaya sponsor namin, ‘yung PLDT, para sumali ulit next year. Basta magchampion lang naman. Bonus lang yun, hindi ko nga alam eh (na may Triple Crown na ako). Ay salamat, naka-tatlong championship na pala ako ngayong taon na ito sa Shakey’s,” said Gorayeb.
“Blessing para sa akin kasi palaging nandiyan yung mga bata sa team eh. Si Alyssa (Valdez) nandiyan kahit ano naging problema niya, andiyan siya. Sila (Aiza) Maizo na hiniram ko sa Cagayan. Pati si (Janine) Marciano, tawag ko sa kanya Marcia eh. Maraming salamat sa tiwala ng mga batang yan.”
He then thanked Cagayan head coach Nestor Pamilar for lending him some of Cagayan’s players as Cagayan had not been able to field a team in the Shakey’s V-Leagues’ Third Conference. “Kay Ness (Pamilar, Cagayan head coach) na nagpahiram ng player sa amin. Sa Army na nabibigyan kami at yung lahat ng volleyball fans ng magandang laro,” he expressed. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanilang lahat. Sa mga fans na pumupunta dito, mga magulang ng mga bata, sa mga nanonood sa TV. Sa liga na ito.”
With the Cagayan Lady Rising Suns not competing in the Reinforced Conference, Gorayeb took the opportunity to “borrow” their two best players. “Nag-usap kami ni Nes. Kung walang team na ifoform si Nes, edi kukunin ko yung dalawa (Maizo and Marciano). Sabi ko kay Nes ‘pare, isasauli ko sayo yan.’ Hiram lang talaga yan.”
Gorayeb then addressed Finals MVP, Alyssa Valdez’s near injury. During Game Two, Valdez’s knee collided with Sue Roces’ head as the reigning UAAP MVP went up for an attack.
“Nagkataon mas matigas yung ulo ni Kuya (Roces) sa tuhod ni Alyssa,” recalled Gorayeb, who had recruited Valdez to play for Ateneo.“Hindi ako nanenerbyos. Nag-aalala ako. Kasi kung talagang hindi kaya ni Alyssa, wala akong magagawa. Eh nagkaumpugan, masakit eh. Masakit kasi tumama sa ulo ni Kuya. Knowing Alyssa alam mo naman yung batang yan eh, hindi marunong uminda sa sakit. Kaya tinatanong ko lagi kung kaya pa niya. Sabi ko, ‘Ano Ly, kaya mo? Kung hindi mo kaya sabihin mo lang. Wag mong pilitin.’ Kaya naman daw. More than her physical condition, iniisip niya yung kapakanan ng team.”
Gorayeb now shifts his focus to the ongoing NCAA and the much-hyped UAAP, which will kick off in February.
Gorayeb is still unsure if Fil-Japanese Risa Sato, who suited up for the National U23 squad, can play for NU in February. “Hindi ko alam yung eligibility rules, pero naka enroll si Sato ngayon, nag-aaral siya.”
But Gorayeb stated that the performance of his young players in the commercial leagues this year has made him confident for NU’s Season 79 run. “’Yun ‘yung purpose ko kaya pinayagan maglaro doon. Kasi dati hindi pumapayag ‘yung NU na maglaro yung mga bata sa labas. Itong taon na ito nung pumasok ako, kinausap ko yung manager na payagan natin para maiba yung level ng competitiveness nila. Tignan mo si Bia (General) nagmamature ng kaunti yung laro niya at nagkakaroon ng awards.”
He then addressed NU’s lineup changes, stating that one of his two setters from last season, Ivy Perez or Asi Soliven, will sit out Season 79. “Kung ma lineup si Sato magbabawas ako. Meron akong ibang player pero na di pa eligible, nagreresidency pa. Kung ma lineup si Sato pipili ako kung sino mawawala sa kanila. Pasok si Rica Diolan, pasok na pasok yon. Kaya inexpose ko si Rica dito eh. Mahirap mag decide.”
