As The Power Hitters Ready for Philippine Super Liga, Roger Gorayeb Reflects on His Fight with Cancer

The game continues for multi-titled coach Roger Gorayeb as he revealed that he would still take the job as the head coach of the PLDT Home Fibr Hitters for the upcoming 2020 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix.

“Kailangan eh, hindi ko naman choice ang mawala. Nagkasakit ako and I almost died. Eto ang passion ko eh, I am doing this for the last 30 years and I cannot give up lalo na maraming nagdasal at nagtulong tulong sa San Sebastian, Ateneo, kahit yung iba hindi ko kakilala,” he said.

The seasoned coach has been diagnosed with myeloma, a curable type of cancer that forms in plasma last year. He was admitted to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City for almost two months.

 “Ayoko sila biguin lalo na yung effort nila in my recovery, ayokong masayang, kailangan kong ibalik, at para hindi mapunta sa wala,” he added.

Decorated as one of the most accomplished volleyball coaches, Gorayeb said that he was very excited to go back in coaching his team even though his doctor told him that he should stay away from stress.

“I’ll be back in March. Actually the doctor said na bawal pa ako ma-stress. May nagsabi nga sa akin na mag Consultant ako, pero hindi ko matitiis na manood lang,” he said.

“Na excite ako na makakabalik dahil maraming nagdasal, salamat sa maraming taong involved, darating din ang araw na mapapasalamatan ko kayo isa-isa. Hindi ko rin talaga akalain marami akong na touch na buhay ng players at sa volleyball community. I would like to thank PLDT dahil sobrang laki ng support na inoffer nila sakin,” he added.

After staying in the hospital for two months, he said that his kidney was back to normal after he underwent dialysis. However, he also bared that he still needs to undergo chemotherapy.

Gorayeb admitted that the team suffered especially during the time he was recuperating in the hospital.

“The team suffered a lot, three of my players ang lumipat during the time I was in the hospital. When I woke up, wala na sila. Ang sabi ko nga bakit sila lumipat eh hindi pa nga ako nalalagay sa kabaong?,” he said.

The PLDT Home Fibr Hitters is more on rebuilding their team this year after some of the players transferred to other teams, the coach said.

“I am starting to build again the team, kung sino yung mga natira, nagtraining kami talaga. Actually, mas maganda ang atmosphere ngayon,” Gorayeb said.

The Power Hitters’ coach also lauded their new import, French spiker Maeva Orle for her valuable efforts-- but Gorayeb said he doesn’t have any high expectations from her.

“Ang kagandahan sa kanya, matulungin, magaling at ugaling Pilipino, she’s easy to go along with, hindi mayabang, she has no ego,” he said.

“Give and take kami dito, symbiotic, kahit mag import ka lalo na at mag isa lang siya ay kailangan pa rin ng support ng local. We encourage her na maglaro nang mahusay same goes to our local sinasabi ko na huwag nilang iaasa sa import, tulong tulong kami dapat kami dito,” he added.

Despite some players transferring to other teams, Gorayeb said that their opponents could expect a “hard game” from the PLDT Home Fibr Hitters in the upcoming 2020 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix.

“Our opponents can expect na we are playing our best kahit medyo nabawasan ng tao dahil hindi nagbago yung drive and determination ng players namin. Lalaban kami, they could expect a hard game against us,” he said.

Photo is from matchpoint media