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Gorayeb’s volleyball dynasty
By Riera U. Mallari, Manila Standard Today (19 April 2007)
Long time San Sebastian College coach Roger Gorayeb has practically built a dynasty in the National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s basketball as enduring as any in modern collegiate sports.
He won his first NCAA title in 1981 as a San Sebastian player, took over the volleyball program and then collected a total of 19 women’s NCAA titles in the past 25 years as a coach.
“My longest winning streak was 11 consecutive years as NCAA women’s champion,” said Gorayeb. “That’s 1986 to 1997. Then, merong two-year drought. Tapos 1999-2003, champion ulit. Then na break na naman ng two years. Then champion na naman 2005 to present.”
He also led the boy’s junior team to 11 consecutive NCAA titles from 1992-2003.
Gorayeb started as a player of SSC. In his fifth and last year in 1984, his coach –Ino Salinas—left for better opportunities abroad.
“Walang magko-coach noon sa team,” said Gorayeb. “Nagkaroon ng void. Kaya ginawa nung mga pari, pinahawakan sa akin ang teams: juniors, lalake, babae. Fortunately, napag-champion ko all three teams on my very first year as coach. Playing coach pa nga ako sa men’s senior team. That was the start of everything.”
And even though he has been successful in the NCAA arena, his biggest unfulfilled challenge is to win hid first V League championship.
“Hindi pa ako nag champion sa V League,” he said. “But slowly, my team’s standing is going up. Nag-start kami diyan fourth place. Then third place. Last season, second place kami behind champion La Salle.”
V League starts its newest season May 13 and Gorayeb again sees La Salle as the biggest hurdle to his first championship.
“Expect ko na na La Salle ang makakalaban namin sa championship,” said Gorayeb. “Expected na ito dahil kilala naman natin ang ibang mga kalaban. Another team na malakas ay Adamson. Kumpleto pa din yan.”
Gorayeb said his team will again rely on Thai import Jaroensri Bualee to lead the team in the V League. Then, there are senior players Joy Pulido, Rysabelle Devanadera, Ann Latigay and Jinni Mondejar, who is also with the national team.
“Medyo hirap si Jinni dahil doble ensayo na siya,” said Gorayeb. “Sana maging advantage sa kanya dahil matindi-tindi ang training. Sana lalo siyang lumakas. Mahirap, baka ma-burnout naman siya,”
Gorayeb said he is not as successful with the school’s men’s volleyball team because it’s not as easy to recruit tall players.
“Mas mahirap kasi mag-recruit ng malalaking players sa lalaki,” he said. “ Sa mga babae, ‘pag meron kang 5’9” or 5’10.” malaki na ‘yan. ‘Di tulad sa lalaki, 5’10” maliit pa. Dapat makakuha ng 6 feet or above. Mas mahirap mag-recruit talaga.”
The essence of collegiate sports is recruitment and Gorayeb already has outstanding players lined up ready to take center stage when his senior players graduate.
“There is Joy Benito. Mataas siya na center blocker from Angeles City. I have a young new setter, si Bamsy Belen. Then meron akong bagong libero, si Jane Pepito. Napakasipag, napakabilis, napaka-talented.”
Gorayeb has an abiding passion for volleyball and exacts discipline from his players. But he is quick to correct the common misconception that he is masungit and unapproachable.
“Serious lang ako at gusto ko respetado ng players ang game,” said Gorayeb. “Ayaw ko ‘yung nilalaro ang game o ensayo. Kasi nagde-develop tayo ng players, hindi naman tayo joke lang.”
Gorayeb explains that he wants to treat each game seriously and expects hid players to do the same. To outsides, it may seem that he is always angry when he is actually just serious in his approach to the game.
“Kasi kung salbahe ako, wala ng students na pupunta dito sa school,” said Gorayeb.” Yung mga nakakakilala sa akin, alam nila na hindi naman ako laging galit. Siguro nagtataas ako ng boses sa laro. Pero pagkatapos ng laro, hindi na ako ganoon. Normal lang yon sa loob ng laro.”
Gorayeb is with San Sebastian not because of high pay but because of his love for volleyball and loyalty to the school.
“Hindi financially rewarding ang trabaho, napaka-demanding pa,” he said. Saang school sa NCAA or sa UAAP or maybe sa buong Manila na isa lang ang gumagawa lahat? Di ko na magawang manghingi ng assistant sa eskwelahan kasi ‘yung loyalty ko nandito na.”
Gorayeb is thankful that he has other teaching and coaching jobs that gave him the extra income.
“Meron namang extra jobs.” Said Gorayeb.” Yung mga ibang schools, nagpapa-training ng players, nagpapa-coach. Kasi dahil na siguro sa success ng team nakikilala narin ako. Hindi naman ako exclusive dito. Naipi-fit ko naman sa schedule ko.”
Gorayeb coaches at St. Paul’s, Feati and British School of Manila which pays much better than San Sebastian. He said he will continue to do what he is doing or as long as he can.
“Hilig ko talaga ‘yung volleyball,” said Gorayeb.
“Secondly, meron kasing mahihirap na bata na gustong mag-aral. May potential naman sa paglalaro na matutulungan ko. Hindi lahat pero ‘yung may talent at hilig sa volleyball, matutulungan mong makatapos.”
He said his San Sebastian volleyball players are students first and athletes second. When he recruits players, his promise is that they will study in San Sebastian and he will help them graduate and earn degree.
“Napakaraming nagdaan sa San Sebastian na nagkaroon ng successful career at buhay,” said Gorayeb.
“Mga nagtratrabaho sa kung saan-saang malalaking kumpanya, sa mga bangko at maraming nasa States na. Doon ka pinakanasa-satisfy---- kapag nababalitaan mo na nagiging successful ang dati mong players.”
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