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Gorayeb braces for tough NCAA season with San Sebastian

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/01/04/roger-gorayeb.jpg"/><figcaption>San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb only has nine players in his line-up. Arvin Lim, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/ncaa/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Multi-titled head coach Roger Gorayeb has no doubt that Season 93 will be a very difficult one for the San Sebastian College Lady Stags, as they entered the NCAA women&#x27;s volleyball tournament with a lean nine-woman roster.Even a winning start to their campaign – San Sebastian trounced Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) in straight sets on Thursday – was of no comfort to Gorayeb.&quot;Madami pang laro,&quot; the coach said after a 25-16, 25-19, 25-16 rout of the Lady Generals. &quot;Ang daming nawalang player. Wala akong recruitment for two years eh.&quot;&quot;Ngayon, pagti-tiyagaan na lang namin kung anong meron,&quot; he added.The Lady Stags, a powerhouse program in the NCAA, made it to the finals in the past two seasons. But they lost key players from last year&#x27;s team, including three-time MVP Grethcel Soltones, who carried San Sebastian&#x27;s offense on her shoulders during her time with the team.Gorayeb still has some veterans on his roster, notably libero Alyssa Eroa and setter Vira Guillema. Joyce Sta. Rita, their middle blocker, is their new captain, and open spiker Dangie Encarnacion is their most proven scorer.But San Sebastian has no established star, and they have only nine players in their line-up -- the minimum allowed by the league. Of those, only seven saw action on Thursday: Julie Anne Tiangco suffered an injury days before the start of the season, and Rosselle Fulgelco was originally a member of the school&#x27;s swimming team before converting to volleyball.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/ncaa/news/2018/01/04/ssc-r-s-magnificent-8-snatches-win-eac-35611">READ: SSC-R’s Magnificent 8 snatches win over EAC</a></li></ul>In their opening game against EAC, only one player stood inside San Sebastian&#x27;s reserve box – a jarring sight.&quot;Sa tagal kong ito, 30-plus years ako sa NCAA, parang ito na ang pinaka-mahinang team (ko),&quot; Gorayeb admitted. &quot;Kulang sa tao. Hirap talaga ako ngayon. Kasi for two years nga, talagang walang recruitment.&quot;Playing with a short-handed roster is nothing new to Gorayeb. He noted that he has won titles in the NCAA before with only seven players in his line-up.&quot;Kaya lang, &#x27;yung pito na &#x27;yun, sobrang ang lalakas noon,&quot; he said. This time around, that is not the case: Eroa is perhaps Gorayeb&#x27;s best player, but as a libero she cannot be counted upon to provide points for the Lady Stags.Gorayeb is admittedly worried that San Sebastian&#x27;s streak of making it to the Top 4 in the NCAA will be snapped this season, but he is keeping his faith in his players.&quot;I don&#x27;t want to look at it na mahina &#x27;yung player, kasi marunong naman &#x27;yang mag-volleyball,&quot; said Gorayeb. &quot;Ang kailangan lang talaga, isapuso lang nila na kulang kami sa tao, so kailangan na extra effort lahat.&quot;&quot;Hindi pupwede na &#x27;yung isa, mahina ang loob or natatakot,&quot; he stressed.Indeed, Gorayeb joked that their motto for Season 93 was &quot;bawal magkasakit.&quot; &quot;Bawal ring mag-tampo,&quot; he added. &quot;Pagti-tiyagaan namin ngayon.&quot;&quot;Pilitin na lang namin maka-survive,&quot; Gorayeb also said. &quot;Sana, makaabot kami, kahit sa Top 4 lang.&quot;<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</div>

Multi-titled head coach Roger Gorayeb has no doubt that Season 93 will be a very difficult one for the San Sebastian Lady Stags, as they entered the NCAA women's volleyball tournament with a lean nine-woman roster.

Multi-titled head coach Roger Gorayeb has no doubt that Season 93 will be a very difficult one for the San Sebastian Lady Stags, as they entered the NCAA women's volleyball tournament with a lean nine-woman roster.

Gorayeb braces for tough NCAA season with San Sebastian

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Gorayeb braces for tough NCAA season with San Sebastian

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 04, 2018 05:59 PM PHT

Read More:

NCAA

volleyball

San Sebastian Lady Stags

Roger Gorayeb

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