Despite opening the NCAA Season 101 women’s volleyball tournament with a 3–0 record, new San Beda University head coach Kungfu Reyes isn’t focused on the number in the win column.
Reyes credited the work his wards put in during the offseason but the seasoned tactician is keeping a long-term goal, stressing that his mission is to bring out the full potential of his players, particularly their top player Angel Habacon.
"Hindi kasi ako masyadong familiar sa NCAA. Hindi naman ako masyadong nakakapanood kasi nga naka-focus sa UAAP dati. So nakita namin day by day ‘yung potential ng mga players," Reyes told GMA News Online on Saturday.
[I was not that familiar with the NCAA. I wasn't able to watch too closely because my focus was on the UAAP before. So we're seeing the potential of the players day by day.]
The third-year outside spiker is on a tear so far in the new season.
She started it by hammering 23 points, 12 digs, and eight receptions in their season opener against Lyceum of the Philippines University then erupted for 23 markers as well, together with eight digs and six receptions, in a sweep of Emilio Aguinaldo College.
She then starred with a triple-double outing in their recent straight sets victory over Arellano University, erupting for 21 points, 15 digs, and 13 receptions.
Reyes has taken notice of Habacon’s steady growth, going as far as likening her to UST legend Sisi Rondina, a former UAAP MVP who left her mark on both indoor and beach volleyball.
Reyes, of course, is known as the architect behind the rise of several elite UAAP spikers, including Sisi Rondina, Eya Laure, and Angge Poyos, among others.
"Nakikita ko si Habacon um-approach pero nakikita ko si Sisi ‘pag pumapalo," he added.
"Gusto naming i-angat, i-uplift ‘yung game, ng liga itself. Mas mataas ‘yung competition, mas maganda."
[I see Habacon on the approach but I see Sisi when she spikes... We want to uplift the game, the league itself. The higher the level of competition, the better.]
But Reyes said they have yet to reach any of their goals despite sporting a spotless record in Group B.
He stressed that he sees their upcoming rivalry match against Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Tuesday as a barometer of how far they’ve come and how much further they can still go.
"Excited kami. Hopefully, madala namin sa indoor volleyball what is in basketball [between San Beda and Letran]. May rivalry kaya maganda," he said.
"Excited kami kasi gusto rin naming makipag-compete sa mga top teams para malaman namin kung nasaan na kami, nagi-improve ba kami. Nando’n kami sa stage na ‘yun, ‘yung winning will take care of itself basta kami magtatrabaho."
[We're excited. Hopefully, we can bring the indoor volleyball what is there in basketball. There is a rivalry, that's why it's good... We're excited because we want to compete with the top teams so we can know where we are at, if we're improving. We're at that stage, the winning will take care of itself as long as we put in the work.]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
