Gorayeb, Home Ultera eye more V-L crowns

MANILA, Philippines - With two victories in the season, PLDT Home Ultera, with a young, intact roster, could be in for a dynastic reign in the country’s premier women’s volleyball league.

But coach Roger Gorayeb has opted to underplay the notion, saying there will always be tough, worthy opponents ready to stop their looming dominant run in the Shakey’ V-League.

“Yes we’re winning championships but I don’t want to call it that way,” said Gorayeb, moments after steering PLDT Home Ultera to a sweep of the Army side in the league’s Season 12 Reinforced Conference Finals before a huge crowd at The Arena Sunday.

What concerns Gorayeb most is how to find ways to win more championships since the opposition, especially, Army, will always be there to foil them.

“Army is always a tough opponent. They will always make sure that every game we played them would be tougher than before,” said Gorayeb. “So forget about dynasty. I’m more concerned in finding ways to beat them whenever we face them.”

The Lady Troopers, indeed, made sure to push the Ultra Fast Hitters to the limit.

In the Open Conference title duel early in the year, Army dragged Home Ultera to a sudden death before losing steam in a classic five-setter.

In the just-concluded Reinforced Conference, the Lady Troopers beat the Ultra Fast Hitters in the elims and were on their way to sweeping their rivals in Game One of the finals after taking the first two sets. But ace spiker Alyssa Valdez, who missed the entire elims and the semis, step into the picture, took charge in the clutch and anchored the team’s title sweep.

“Ours have become a rivalry. Don’t mistake it for bad blood because we don’t feel that way, but it’s really intense whenever we play them,” said Gorayeb. “But I think it’s good for the league, good for the fans.”

Dynasty or not, Gorayeb wants his team to take a quick breather for now and focus on the forthcoming collegiate season.

“Rest for some, back to college for others,” said Gorayeb, who also scored a personal feat of sorts, winning all three titles staked this year, including the Collegiate Conference crown with the National Lady Bulldogs.