AFTER steering National University (NU) to the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Collegiate Conference championship, Coach Roger Gorayeb has his sights on their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) campaign, seeking no less than a crack at the championship against perhaps the very team they humbled in the recent V-League finals.
“I want NU to make it to the championship in the UAAP this season. That’s really my dream. That’s my purpose for NU,” said Gorayeb, who moved from Ateneo to NU, capping the switch by piloting the Lady Bulldogs to a convincing 25-21, 26-24, 25-19 victory over the Ateneo Lady Eagles in sudden death to hand NU its second V-League collegiate crown at The Arena in San Juan City last Sunday.
Gorayeb said their Shakey’s V-League stint helped his team a lot—in terms of experience, preparations and poise—although he will be without Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Rubie de Leon when they vie in the UAAP volley wars in February next year.
Manabat and de Leon suited up for NU in the V-League as guest players, having completed their playing years with the school. But Gorayeb believes the two have shared their expertise and skills with the rest of the members during their title run in the Shakey’s-sponsored league.
“That’s why I only took in Rubie late in our V-League campaign so that my other players, including my setter can learn,” said Gorayeb, referring to the youthful Rica Diolan, who will now be NU’s starting setter in the UAAP.
“Rubie took her under her wing in a few weeks she was with us and I hope she [Diolan] has learned from her, especially in decision-making,” he said.
De Leon dished out solid performances in the finals, especially in the last two games where she exploited the team’s advantage in depth and talent.
Myla Pablo, who outshone the fancied Alyssa Valdez in Game Three to snatch the Finals MVP trophy, will also be NU’s take-charge guy in the UAAP.
“I’m choosing between Myla and Jorelle [Singh] to be my team captain but it’s probably her [Pablo],” Gorayeb said.
Pablo, a 22-year-old graduating marketing student, said she’s ready for the challenge.
“I’m ready,” she said.
So do the rest of the squad, including the vastly improved Jaja Santiago, Aiko Urdas, Ivy Perez and liberos Fatima Bia General and Gayle Rose Valdez, making them a real threat to the reigning champion the Ateneo Lady Eagles.
Image credits: Roy Domingo