It hasn't been a year since Kungfu Reyes was given the coaching mantle at San Beda University, but the veteran tactician has already delivered promising results.
But Reyes believes it took the entire community to bring the Lady Red Spikers back to NCAA women’s volleyball relevance.
"It’s not just me kasi ang daming tao ang tumutulong, especially the management. Maraming people behind the camera and not just me," Reyes told GMA News Online.
"Siguro ako lang ‘yung nagre-represent sa grupo pero syempre, thankful ako do’n and I take it as a compliment. Pero tinatrabaho naman namin."
(It’s not just me, there are a lot of people helping, especially the management. There are a lot of people behind the camera and not just me. I guess I am the one representing the group. Of course, I’m thankful for that and I take it as a compliment. But we’re working hard for this.)
San Beda had not reached the Final Four in the last seven years. The last time the school was in that stage was in Season 94, when the Mendiola crew finished third before falling to eventual champion Arellano University in the semifinals.
Ever since then, San Beda faced one heartbreak after another, often finishing in the lower half of the standings.
But Reyes’ arrival has breathed fresh life into the Lady Red Spikers’ program.
San Beda dropped only four games in the preliminary phase to claim the second spot in Group B and book a twice-to-beat bonus come the quarterfinals in Season 101. Despite a daunting matchup against Mapua University that went down to sudden death, the Lady Red Spikers emerged victorious, marking their long-awaited return to the Final Four.
But their biggest test came in the semifinals. They were pitted against an unbeaten Colegio de San Juan de Letran, which was gunning to enter the finals for the third time in a row.
San Beda, though, lost the opener with Judiel Nitura leading the way to help Letran move on cusp of another finals stint. But the Lady Red Spikers pulled off a stunner, shocking Letran in Game 2 behind the tandem of Angel Habacon and Janelle Bachar to force a do-or-die Game 3.
The Lady Red Spikers put up a brave stand in the decider, but the Lady Knights showed they wanted it more.
Even with the Final Four exit, Reyes believes this year’s achievements indicate the team is moving in the right direction.
"Of course maganda. Maganda ‘yung turnout ng team kasi ang hirap pumasok sa Top Four. ‘Yung quarterfinals pa lang halos mamatay na kami. Ano ang Letran ngayon, 16-2, I guess? And ‘yung one na ‘yun [kami ang nagbigay] so we have something to be proud of," Reyes added.
"Hindi namin tsinambahan ‘yan, tinrabaho namin ‘yan. Sinubukan namin pero 15-1 ‘yan e, so hindi basta-basta papayag ‘yan. Talagang lumabas ‘yung pagiging beterano ng Letran."
(Of course, it’s good. The turnout for out team was good because it’s hard to enter the Top Four. The quarterfinals, we thought we would die. What is Letran now, 16-2, I guess? And one of those, we gave them, so we have something to be proud of… That was not luck, that was something we worked for. We tried, but that’s a 15-1 team. They’re not just going to let us win. So Letran’s veteran poise really came out.)
—JMB, GMA News
