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Gorayeb admits semis bonus has slipped from NU's grasp

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/03/21/032117-nucoach.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">NU head coach Roger Gorayeb gives instructions to Risa Sato. <cite>Arvin Lim, <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports</a></cite></div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – National University (NU) head coach Roger Gorayeb admits that he has all but given up on chasing the No. 2 seed in the UAAP Season 79 women&#x27;s volleyball tournament, as his Lady Bulldogs find themselves stuck in the middle of the standings.NU opened the season with three straight wins, including an impressive four-set victory over Ateneo de Manila University, but a loss to defending champion La Salle sent them into a tailspin from which they are just now recovering.Currently, NU is tied for a share of third place along with University of Santo Tomas (UST). However, Far Eastern University (FEU) and University of the Philippines (UP) are just one game behind at 5-5. Ateneo is at No. 1 with a 9-1 record, and De La Salle University isn&#x27;t too far behind at 8-2.&quot;Hindi na namin maalis ang No. 1 and No. 2,&quot; Gorayeb said firmly on Sunday, after his team battled through a four-set victory over also-ran University of the East.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2017/03/19/lady-bulldogs-survive-another-challenge-lady-warriors-23489">READ: Lady Bulldogs survive another challenge from Lady Warriors</a></li></ul>&quot;Ang Ateneo, isa lang ang talo. Ang La Salle, dalawa,&quot; he said. &quot;Kami, four na, so lamang na sila agad ng dalawang laro sa amin. Malabo ng mangyari. Madaling isipin, pero mahirap mangyari.&quot;&quot;(We have to) accept the truth, accept the fact na mahihirapan na kami pumasok sa No. 2,&quot; he stressed.[We cannot dislodge the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds anymore. Ateneo has only one loss, and La Salle only has two losses. We already have four losses, so they&#x27;re already two games ahead. It is going to be too difficult. We have to accept the truth, accept the fact that it will very hard for us to get the No. 2 seed.]The top two seeds in the Final 4 will have a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals. Gorayeb admits that given how the UAAP teams are performing, he is almost certain that La Salle and Ateneo will take the top two spots, and none of the teams chasing them – including his own – can catch up.&quot;Ngayon kasi, mathematically parang imposible na (to reach the top two),&quot; he said. &quot;Based sa nilalaro ng mga teams, parang imposible na kami, kahit sino sa amin ang mag No. 2, dahil sa dami ng talo.&quot;[Mathematically, it seems impossible for us to reach the top two. Based on how the teams are playing, it&#x27;s impossible for any of us to reach the No. 2 spot, because we already have too many losses.]Given the situation, Gorayeb is shifting his focus to the lower seeds. &quot;Ang pinag-aawayan na lang namin, No. 3 and No. 4,&quot; Gorayeb said in his characteristically blunt manner. &quot;Ang gusto ko lang ngayon, ipanalo namin itong huling limang laro namin.&quot;[At this point, we&#x27;re just fighting for the No. 3 and No. 4 spots. I just want my team to win the rest of our games.]Their remaining schedule does NU no favors. They will face a streaking Ateneo team on Wednesday, and their last three games are all against Final 4 contenders as well – UP, FEU, and UST, in that order. Gorayeb knows that these games are all &quot;must-wins&quot; for the Lady Bulldogs, who are trying to return to the Final 4 after missing the bus last year.If they do make the semifinals, then anything can happen, said Gorayeb.&quot;Pagdating sa Top 4, hindi naman imposible na talunin ng No. 3 &#x27;yung No. 2 ng dalawang beses. Hindi naman imposibleng taluning noong No. 4 &#x27;yung No. 1 ng dalawang beses,&quot; he said.&quot;Doon, medyo back to reality tayo, tabla-tabla na ulit,&quot; he added. &quot;Pero ngayon, medyo malabo na ang tabla-tabla.&quot;[In the Final 4, it&#x27;s not impossible for the No. 3 seed to beat the No. 2 seed twice, and for the No. 4 seed to beat the No. 1 seed twice. There, we&#x27;ll be on an even standing.] For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">Sports website.</a>

National University (NU) head coach Roger Gorayeb admits that he has all but given up on chasing the No. 2 seed in the UAAP Season 79 women's volleyball tournament, as his Lady Bulldogs find themselves stuck in the middle of the standings.

National University (NU) head coach Roger Gorayeb admits that he has all but given up on chasing the No. 2 seed in the UAAP Season 79 women's volleyball tournament, as his Lady Bulldogs find themselves stuck in the middle of the standings.

Gorayeb admits semis bonus has slipped from NU's grasp

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Gorayeb admits semis bonus has slipped from NU's grasp

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 21, 2017 09:51 PM PHT

Read More:

UAAP

UAAP Season 79

UAAP volleyball

NU Lady Bulldogs

Roger Gorayeb

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