(SPOT.ph) Unless you're a fan of team sports, basketball and volleyball games are just a lot of people running, until the other team scores a point. (We can already feel the side-eyes of sports fans from here.) But if you turn your attention to other things happening outside the court, there's just something out there to keep you interested in the major leagues. Take for example, Coach Roger Gorayeb, a former volleyball player and long-time coach of the National Collegiate Athletics Association's San Sebastian Lady Stags. His pep talks and timeout instructions are always to look out for, especially if you get sound bites that are too funny whether heard with or without context.
Gorayeb started his coaching career at the age of 23 in 1984. He was still playing for the collegiate Stags back then, but their coach, Marino Salinas, had to leave for Australia.
"Nung 1984, ‘yung coach namin, umalis at nagpuntang Australia, si Marino Salinas. Wala kaming coach. Eh team captain ako. Hawakan ko daw muna,” said Gorayeb in a SPIN.ph interview in July 2020. He became head coach of the men's team; then later, also the women's and juniors teams. Gorayeb is best known for leading the San Sebastian players into an 11-year dynasty in the NCAA championships from 1986 to 1997: 22 for women's volleyball, six for women's beach volleyball, and 11 for junior's volleyball. For the University Athletic Association of the Philippines league, he mentored the Ateneo Lady Eagles volleyball team from 2008 to 2013 and the National University Lady Bulldogs volleyball team from 2015 to 2017. At the pro level, he previously served as head coach of the Philippine women's national team, PLDT Home Telpad Turbo Boosters, BaliPure Purest Water Defenders, PayMaya High Flyers, and PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters. Gorayeb parted with PLDT in January 2022 after an eight-year stint.
Aside from a successful coaching career, the veteran coach also won against cancer after being declared cancer-free on June 21, 2020. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2019.
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Here are the funniest lines of Coach Roger Gorayeb from the sidelines:
"May maligno ba diyan na mag-aangat nung bola?"
In a July 1 match against the College of Saint Benilde, the women's volleyball players of San Sebastian College - Recoletos are lagging behind on the first set. The rivals already scored six, but they only scored once since game started. During a timeout, Gorayeb reminded them to keep an eye of the ball, especially when it's already on their side of the court. "Pumapalo papunta do'n sa lugar mo, cross-court. Tinitingnan mo lang, aangat ba 'yan? Meron ka pa bang isang kakampi diyan na ano...may maligno ba diyan na mag-aangat nung bola?"
"Kahit lamang pa kayo ng 1000 points, kung ganyan ang lalaro n'yo, uubusin 'yan."
Even though they're on the winning side, Gorayeb reminded his players during a June 18 match against Arellano to still play smart. They should not be overconfident about having more points.
"Ano bang meron sa sulok do'n? Nando'n ba 'yong fans club mo?"
After numerous service errors, Gorayeb called out Bianca Ordoña for playing only on one corner of the court. They do have half a court, after all, which they should use to their full advantage.
"Tapang lang ang puhunan n'yo diyan!"
Seemingly running out of patience after losing lots of points, the Lady Stags are reprimanded for not implementing what they've practice off-court. They were down three points during the third set against San Beda on July 5. "Takot na takot kayo. Tingnan niyo 'yong mga mata niyo. Tapang lang ang puhunan n'yo diyan e, wala namang iba."
"Turista ka ba d'yan?"
With a 24-21 score in favor of the Lady Stags, Gorayeb called for time out during the third set. They are, however, two sets behind the JRU Lady Bombers and coach is not happy. "Nasa'n ka ba? Turista ka ba d'yan? Biruin mo pagkakuha mo ng bola, tumayo ka na lang do'n," he reprimanded Katherine Santos during the timeout.
"Para kayong namatayan ng pusa."
"Lamang tayo para kayong namatayan ng pusa, ang lulungkot n'yo diyan. May patay bang pusa sa inyo?" he told his players, who may need a dose or two of enthusiasm. San Sebastian is winning against Perpetual in the second set, which is a comeback after the Stags lost the first one.