Roger Gorayeb PHOTO BY TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.net
Philippine Superliga president Ramon “Tats” Suzara questioned Wednesday the choice of Roger Gorayeb as national coach of the Philippine team to the prestigious VTV Asian women’s invitational volleyball championships in Vietnam.
Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas secretary general Ricky Palou has named Gorayeb as mentor of the national team which will be composed of the core of the Philippine squad in the recent Southeast Asian Games in Singapore which Gorayeb handled.
READ: Gorayeb, core of SEA Games team to lead PH in Vietnam volley tilt
“LVPI is depriving other coaches here in the Philippines the chance to show their expertise, we have many capable coaches here,” said Suzara. “Roger didn’t perform in SEA Games, let’s give others a chance.’
The Philippines returned to the SEA Games after a 10-year absence but failed to reach the semifinals.
READ: Vietnam eliminates PH in SEA Games women’s volleyball
Suzara, a ranking official of both the FIVB and the AVC handling marketing and development, said LVPI should learn from the example of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
“In basketball, all the best coaches banded together that’s why we see good results,” added Suzara who was sec-gen of LVPI predecessor Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association when the country won its last SEAG gold in 1993.
In an earlier interview, LVPI president Joey Romasanta said they have appointed Ateneo coach Tai Bundit to handle the team. But Suzara said he met Bundit in Bangkok where the coach was on vacation and told him he wasn’t informed of the appointment.
READ: PH volleybelles joining Vietnam VTV tourney
The VTV tourney pits the best clubs around the world and is expected to feature top-tier teams from Kazakhstan, Japan, Korea, China and Thailand.