"It's Not About the Championships" Roger Gorayeb Discusses His Greatest Achievement as a Coach

22 championships in the women's division. 11 in the juniors division and six more in the women's beach volleyball.

For volleyball coach whose coaching career began as an accident and yet, he was able to lead all San Sebastian teams that he handled as a playing coach to championships, Roger Gorayeb should be included in the discussion of being one of the greatest volleyball minds in the Philippines. In the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), he was the man on top of things as he steered the Lady Stags of San Sebastian to 11 straight women's volleyball championships from 1986 to 1997. 

He also served as the head coach of the Philippine women's volleyball team in 2014. But for Gorayeb, all of that doesn't count as achievements as he said, "It's difficult to brag about the championships because they are not my achievements. It's the achievement of the players for their hardships."

Last Saturday's episode of Usapang PSL featured Noel Zarate substituting for Aby Marano as host and it was another fun-filled episode as Zarate was able to have a hearty discussion with Alyssa Eroa, Vira Guillema, Joyce Sta. Rita and the ever intense Coach Roger Gorayeb of the PLDT Home Fibr Hitters in the Philippine SuperLiga (PSL).During the latter stretch of the episode, a viewer sent a question for Gorayeb which turned out to be Kick-Start Coffee Question of the Day.

"What will you consider as your greatest achievement as a coach?"

For the coach who also coached the Ateneo Lady Eagles and the National University Lady Bulldogs in the University Athletic Asociation of the Philippines (UAAP), "The achievement is that I was able to help them (the players). That after they've graduated, they become good people. My greatest achievement is that they come back to me (to check on him especially when he got sick). That the players know how to look back on how they started," He also shared that if a player remains loyal to you as a coach, that can be considered as an achievement. 

Gorayeb also pointed out that "I don't think about the championships. What I think about is if my players are doing great in life" 

That's why many people love Roger Gorayeb despite his intense image. That's why players and coaches respect Roger Gorayeb despite his rugged look during games. That's why Roger Gorayeb is a treasure to Philippine women's volleyball. He doesn't care about championships. He cares about the lives of the players who played under him. 

Screenshot is from pinoyliga.com Facebook page