April 23, 2015, 9:20 p.m. – UAAP girls’ volleyball
champion head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. has been appointed as the new
chief tactician of the UST Golden Tigresses.
He replaced Tiger Spikers head coach Odjie Mamon whose
four-year tenure ended as his contract expired last March 31.
Reyes said he got his formal appointment Wednesday although
he had been training the Tigresses since last week.
Reyes was picked by a council at the Institute of Physical
Education and Athletics
“Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako, mas na-cha-challenge kasi
ako dun sa new task, new team, new environment,” Reyes told the Varsitarian in
a phone interview. “Natuwa din syempre
kahit papano kaya lang mas kinakabahan ako ngayon kasi lumabas na ako yung
napili. Kasi mas mataas na responsibilidad yung hahawakan.”
Aware of the vast media exposure experienced by women’s
volleyball in recent years, Reyes said he was up for the challenge, including
possible criticism.
Reyes said his first task was to develop the team’s winning
attitude in hopes of reviving the lost tradition of the Tigresses in the UAAP
as a team that strikes fear into opponents’ heart.
“Pag ako humawak kailangan masanay manalo yung team, ‘yung
patitibayin mo yung attitude nung mga players. Gusto ko i-develop din ‘yung
real Thomasian fighter na dati pag sinabing UST natatakot na yung kalaban,” he
added.
Despite accepting the position for the seniors’ team, Reyes
will still call the shots for the multi-titled UST girls’ volleyball team.
Still assisting him for the Tigresses are assistant coach Vilet Ponce-de Leon
and trainer Ian Fernandez.
Reyes has yet to confirm any off-season tournament for the
Tigresses.
Reyes steered UST to the girls’ volleyball championship when
the team was bannered by MVP Ennajie Laure in Season 76 and a runner-up finish
in Season 77. He was the assistant coach of Francis Vicente during the Alyssa
Valdez and Dindin Santiago era. Karl Cedrick G. Basco
