High school volleyball coach Sandy Rieta talks about handling three teams for Perpetual

GMA Network

10-06-2025

By JUSTIN KENNETH CARANDANG,GMA Integrated News
Many coaches are already household names in collegiate volleyball like San Sebastian College-Recoletos' Roger Gorayeb, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde's Jerry Yee, De La Salle University's Ramil De Jesus, or National University's Dante Alinsunurin.
But while he has yet to win his own title in the collegiate ranks, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA's Sandy Rieta is carving his own path as well in high school volleyball.
Rieta is the head coach of three different volleyball teams in Perpetual: the women's team in collegiate, and the boys and girls team in high school.
Just recently, he steered both Perpetual high school squads to the finals of the NCAA Season 100 Volleyball Fiesta with the boys' team winning the title.
It was already his seventh title with the boys team.
"Walang pahinga eh," Rieta told GMA News Online after winning the boys' title last Sunday. "Bukas (Monday) tryout naman, tatlong team."
[No rest... Tomorrow, we're holding tryouts, three teams.]
The work just never stops for Rieta, who also handled previously Alas Pilipinas players EJ Casaña, Vince Lorenzo, and Noel Kampton.
Asked how he balanced handling three teams this season — and all contenders, by the way, even if the Lady Altas finished fifth this season — Rieta himself said he asks himself the same question, too.
"Minsan naiisip ko na rin 'yan pag mag-isa ako eh," he said in jest.
"Lalo na 'pag talo, kailangan makaisa ka para mawala 'yung [pagod]. Ayun, time management, balance."
[I sometimes think about that when I'm alone... Especially after a loss, you need to get one back so that the fatigure goes away. It's time management, balance.]
Handling three teams in simultaneous tournaments is no easy task.
"Katulad ng season na 'to, usually umaga laro ng boys, hapon 'yung girls or alternate sila, so 'pag may laro ang college ng 2:30 p.m. or 12 p.m., magte-training ako sa umaga, usually girls sa umaga, then alis ako, pagbalik ko high school boys."
[Like this season, usually the boys play in the morning, the girls in the afternoon or they alternate so when the college teams play at 2:30 p.m. or 12 p.m., I'll hold training in the morning, usually the girls in the morning then I'll leave and when I return, it's the high school boys.]
The Las Piñas-based teams also have to leave the campus four hours before their scheduled game, so add to that the travel time needed on top of his training sessions and the game proper.
Rieta, however, said he is just happy with what he does.
"Ganun din kasi eh, 'pag nasa puso mo, 'di ka rin nakakaramdam ng pagod, 'yung passion mo, tapos masaya ka sa ginagawa mo, hindi ka makakaramdam ng pagod. Maiisip mo lang 'yung pagod 'pag talo, honestly."
[It's like that, if your heart's in it, you won't feel tired, if it's your passion, and you're happy with what you're doing, you won't feel tired. You only feel the fatigue when you lose, honestly.]
Good thing that Rieta won one this season and perhaps, he can now take even just a short break before starting to prepare for the next season.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News