AWARE of the huge attention given to women’s volleyball, newly minted UST Golden Tigresses head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes, Jr. insists he’s up for the challenge for the underachieving squad.
“Mas gusto ko magtrabaho under pressure, doon made-develop ‘yung patience at kung gaano kalawak ‘yung pag-iisip natin,” Reyes told the Varsitarian. “It’s a personal matter, my willingness to carry the team. Sabi ko nga, it is another page sa buhay ko.”
The former UAAP girls’ volleyball champion coach was named new chief tactician of the Tigresses last Apr. 22.
Reyes’ first task is to end the Tigresses’ three-year Final Four drought. He will inherit an intact lineup featuring UAAP Season 77 Rookie of the Year EJ Laure, Best Blocker Marivic Meneses as well as veterans Pam Lastimosa and Mela Tunay.
Although he said that there would be some slight changes in the team’s system, Reyes opted to keep Vilet Ponce-de Leon as assistant coach and Ian Fernandez as trainer.
“Simple lang ako, kung ano ‘yung gusto ko, ‘yun dapat ang mangyari. Kung ano yung dinesign ‘yun ‘yung gusto kong lumabas. Kung kailangan kong mag-champion, kailangan kong mag-champion,” Reyes asserted.
Reyes wants to instill a different and more difficult training regimen to form a “real Thomasian fighter.”
“Dapat maramdaman nila ‘yung hirap ng training para sa ganun pagdating sa laro ‘di nila basta basta ibibigay ‘yung laro, kasi nandoon ‘yung motivation na pinaghirapan mo ng matagal,” Reyes revealed.
Despite having a strong team, the Philippine Army assistant coach would focus on the various skill sets of his players to develop multi-tasking and the squad’s stamina which he considers their foundation.
Regarding his target in the next UAAP season, the 34-year-old coach is setting the bar high as he wants to win back the UAAP title.
On the other hand, Reyes, who will still be manning the girls’ volleyball team, is not worried about not getting highly-touted recruits this year, trusting the players who chose UST out of dedication.
“Hindi ko kailangan ng malaking pangalan. Gusto ko ‘yung dedicated, kung sino ‘yung talagang gustong mag UST at ibibigay yung sarili sa’min,” he told. “Gagawa kami ulit ng panibagong star.”
Reyes steered UST to the girls’ volleyball championship when the team was bannered by then-Most Valuable Player Laure in Season 76 and a runner-up finish in Season 77. He was the assistant coach of head tactician Francis Vicente during the Alyssa Valdez and Dindin Santiago era in the UST girls’ volleyball team. Karl Cedrick G. Basco
