Jheck Dionela reminisces on her time with multi-titled coach Sammy Acaylar, who recently passed away at the age of 66.
The Philippine volleyball community continues to mourn the death of legendary head coach Sammy Acaylar, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 66.
Acaylar was best known for his work in the men’s volleyball community, headlined by his 14 NCAA Men’s Volleyball titles and a 53-game winning streak with the University of Perpetual Help Altas. He was also a former men’s national team coach, who helped produce a bronze medal finish in the 16th Southeast Asian Games in 1991.
Acaylar was equally impactful on the women’s side, guiding the Perpetual Lady Altas to a three-peat from NCAA Seasons 88 to 90, and was the founding head coach of the Cignal HD Spikers in the Philippine Super Liga in 2013.
Among the many players that Coach Sammy mentored is Jheck Dionela, one of the original Cignal HD Spikers under his tutelage. Dionela, now with the Farm Fresh Foxies, turned emotional as she reminisced on her time with Acaylar in Cignal and their Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship stint in 2015.
“Kanina, ‘yung moment of silence napanood ko siya live, talagang ‘di ko maiwasang maiyak,” said Dionela, referring to the PVL’s tribute to Coach Sammy on Thursday at the Philsports Arena. “High school pa lang ako kilala ko na si Coach Sammy. I respect him a lot and ang dami naming pinagdaanan, naging coach siya ng kuya ko, naging coach ko sa Cignal, sa national team.”
“Nagpapasalamat talaga ako kay coach kasi ang dami niyang natulungang players, ang dami niyang na-influence na other players. Isa talaga siya sa mga well–known and well-respected sa volleyball community,” added Dionela, one of Philippine volleyball’s elite liberos in her prime.
Loyalty was Jheck Dionela’s biggest learning from Sammy Acaylar, who mentored Perpetual Help from 1985 until his passing. In his lone PVL stint with the Gerflor Defenders, Acaylar stood by his players amid unpaid wages and a lack of a proper training venue.
Dionela, meanwhile, was with the HD Spikers for 11 years, before opting to start anew with Farm Fresh ahead of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
“Si Coach Sammy, knowing him, talagang loyal siya sa mga players niya na kung nasan siya gusto talaga niyang dalhin ‘yung mga players niya doon. Marami siyang na-inspire, marami siyang natulungan na players,” she reflected.
“Honestly marami siyang nadala dito sa PVL, sa previous leagues and sa colleges. Ang dami niyang binigay na championships sa Perpetual, so sobrang ang laking loss, naramdaman ko and kanina naiiyak ako. Pero ganun talaga ang buhay, circle of life. And hopefully ma-honor namin ‘yung iniwan niyang legacy.”
Banner image from Jheck Dionela on Facebook.