Alyssa Valdez, the stalwart captain of the Creamline Cool Smashers, was brimming with joy as she reunited with her former college coach, Roger Gorayeb, in a showdown that stirred up memories and emotions on Thursday evening at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In a commanding display of dominance, Valdez led her team to a resounding victory over Gorayeb's Capital1 squad, clinching a decisive 25-18, 25-14, 25-15 win in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
Reflecting on the encounter, Valdez expressed her overwhelming emotions, acknowledging the journey Gorayeb had undertaken to return to the sidelines.
"For me, facing off against Coach Roger in today's game was overwhelming because I know the challenges he had to overcome to be back here," Valdez shared.
Having witnessed Gorayeb's battle with multiple myeloma in 2019 and his triumphant return to coaching after being declared cancer-free, Valdez eagerly anticipated the future of Gorayeb and his Capital1 team in the PVL.
"Knowing what Coach Roger has been through, I'm very excited to see where his team and he himself will go in this volleyball community. He's one of the longest-serving coaches here, having even coached Coach Sherwin. Coach, keep getting stronger and better," Valdez remarked, reflecting on Gorayeb's enduring impact on the sport.
Valdez, who was nurtured by Gorayeb from her days at UST High School to her collegiate career at Ateneo, revealed the personal motivation driving her performance against the Solar Spikers.
"It's always special to compete against your former coaches because you want to show them how much you've improved. But sometimes, there's also that familiarity, where they know you inside out," Valdez confessed.
She also highlighted the hallmark qualities of Gorayeb's coaching style, emphasizing his unwavering trust in his players and his intense passion for every point.
"One thing Coach Roger instills in his team is trust in the players, and you can see how he reacts to every point. His energy is infectious, and his players give their all because of that," Valdez observed, underscoring Gorayeb's profound influence on both her career and the sport as a whole.
