Coach Roger: Behind powerful defense, PLDT Power Hitters looks to keep win alive

Despite losing in their first two games against the Sta. Lucia Realtors and F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the 2020 Philippine Superliga (PSL), Coach Roger Gorayeb said the PLDT Fibr Power Hitters’ advantage during this season was their good defense.

“The strength of the players now is their good defense, nakukuha naman nila nang maayos, however, the counter attack naman is mahina,” Gorayeb said.

“But still, there was no pressure for the players kasi mahaba pa ang malaban, for now we just need to accumulate the ways para makapasok kami sa Top four , pero ayaw din naman naming natatalo kasi yung confidence level ng players bumababa,” he added.

He also admitted that losing three of its first six players was a big factor in their game in this PSL season. 

Gretchel Soltones, Jerilli Malabanan both transferred to PetroGazz in the rival league while Jasmine Nabor joined the newly-minted Cherry Tiggo.

“Malaking bagay yung pagkakawala ng tatlong starters originally, kaya nagaadjust kami hanggang ngayon,” he said.

“Lalo na nung game 1 against the Sta. Lucia, we are super close and we could have won it pero bumaliktad yung mga pangyayari. Nawawala kasi kami sa dulo. While our second game naman sa F2, talagang contender na sila, hindi sila nawawalan ng player unlike us,” he added.

The 22-time NCAA champion coach also underscored the importance of setter’s strategy in the game.

“Malaking bagay yung diskarte ng setter, may pinapagawa ako sa kanila pero hanggang ngayon ay di pa nila nagagawa kasi magiging costly para sa amin, siyempre malaking bagay yun,” he said.

“Parang coach ang setter kapag nasa game na eh, kapag nagkamali ng kumpas, sintunado na,” he added.

Gorayeb also lauded the effort of their foreign reinforcement Maeva Orle after leading the team in their first two games and for helping him to coach the Hitters.

“I always tell to the girls that Maeva kasi is nandyan para tulungan tayo para manalo hindi para ipanalo ang team. Mahirap na iasa sa kanya ang lahat, kasi hindi naman siya explosive na lahat ng bola ay namamatay sa kanya so I  really wanted to push for the local players to step up their game,” he said.

The Power Hitters will face against the Cherry Tiggo on Tuesday, at Filoil Flying V Centre.

Photo is from PLDT Home Fibr Hitters Facebook page