The last time Oliver Almadro and Roger Gorayeb met at the NCAA stage was 25 years ago, with the two coaches wearing different hats for their respective schools.
At that time, Almadro was still playing as a setter for Colegio de San Juan de Letran while Gorayeb was at the helm of San Sebastian College-Recoletos' men's volleyball squad.
More than two decades later, the two had a reunion at the exact same stage, only this time as the opposing coaches in Season 99 as Almadro now calls the shots for the Lady Knights while Gorayeb handles the Lady Stags.
"In the NCAA first time [namin magharap as coaches] kasi player ako dati, coach na siya ng San Sebastian so 25 years after, he’s still here," Almadro told GMA News Online on Wednesday.
(It's the first time that we met in the NCAA as coaches since when I was a player, he was already a coach for San Sebastian so 25 years after, he's still here.)
It excites Almadro that he got the victory over Gorayeb in their very first meeting as Letran outlasted San Sebastian in five sets to lock up the second seed in the Final Four round.
However, he stressed it doesn't take away the fact that Gorayeb has been a solid force in the coaching scene from years ago up until to the present.
"Coach Roger’s accolade is ang hirap nang pantayan niyan. I cannot beat Coach Roger, but I want to beat his team," Almadro, who had also bagged a number of championships under his belt, said.
"Hindi ko siya matatalo pero I just want to beat his team. Those kinds of mga coaches really inspire me as a coach also na looking at them, they're still here, fighting and guiding pa rin ‘yung mga bata."
(Coach Roger's accolade is unbeatable. I cannot beat Coach Roger, but I want to beat his team. Those kinds of coaches really inspire me as a coach and looking at them, they're still here, fighting and guiding the young ones.)
Almadro also considers Gorayeb as a mentor and a father figure, imparting wisdom to him during the early days of his coaching stint that had led him to various teams like Ateneo and several professional clubs.
"Madalas kami magkasama ni Coach Roger sa national team, noong panahon na nasa La Salle ako then siya sa San Sebastian, iisa ‘yung managers namin," he added.
"Parang coach at tatay ko na rin siya. ‘Yun ang maganda kay coach Roger, hindi siya madamot magbigay ng advice, hindi siya madamot magbigay ng tips. Kahit dati na magkasama kami sa Ateneo, ako sa women’s and siya sa men’s and then tapos ngayon magkalaban na kami."
(Coach Roger and I are usually in the national team, or when I was a La Salle [coaching staff], he is with San Sebastian, our managers are just the same. He is like my coach and father, he is not selfish with tips. Even before when we were in Ateneo, I was with the women's and he was with the men's, now we're opponents.)
Letran defeated San Sebastian in their face-off, 25-20, 25-27, 20-25, 25-12, 15-9.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
