Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes made his debut in NCAA women’s volleyball this Season 101, and it’s safe to say it has been a success. In fact, Reyes’s San Beda Lady Red Spikers are one win away from clinching a finals berth—and sending the once-unbeaten Letran Lady Knights crashing out of the tournament.
That’s after Reyes led his Lady Red Spikers to a stunning upset win against Letran. The win not only snapped the Lady Knights’ 15-game winning run, but also forced a win-or-go-home Game 3 later today.
Nothing’s new to Reyes. Not the high stakes, not the pressure situations, not the challenges. Coaching to him, after all, is already a lifestyle. And he’s just happy that his wards are excelling under his leadership and tutelage.
“Siyempre masaya pero maganda ‘yung [panalo] para sa mga bata kasi gusto namin na kaya nilang manalo,” Reyes told Rebanse in an exclusive interview after San Beda’s Game 2 win. “Ano naman ‘to, lifestyle na ‘to. Kumbaga sa ano, hindi na ako bago sa industry. Ang challenging lang, ‘yung mga dadatnan namin na player, which is kaya naman namin mag-develop. Bago man ako dito [sa NCAA], unfamiliar territory, but still volleyball pinunta ko dito, hindi na siya bago for me.”
Angel Habacon and Janelle Bachar Are Willing to Learn Under Kung Fu Reyes
In his 10 years at UST, Kung Fu Reyes handled his fair share of players, and he’s now tasked to lead a new batch of talented volleyball players. The most notable of these players are Angel Habacon and Janelle Bachar, whom Reyes describes as very willing to learn.
“These players are willing pang matuto eh. Marami pa naman silang dapat ayusin, definitely. Kailangan lang ma-sharpen namin ‘yung skills, maturity, decision-making—everything as a volleyball [player], ‘yun ang importante,” he said.
Based on early returns, Kung Fu Reyes’s two stars are learning well and fast. In that win over Letran, Habacon had 12 points, while Bachar had a team-high 25.
To Overachieve Is the Goal
As Kung Fu Reyes prepares his Lady Red Spikers for what could be a monumental upset win in Game 3, he emphasized how every win from now on out is a chance to contribute to the goal he had set for his team.
“Yun naman yung gusto namin, ‘yung rubber match kasi it’s another story ‘yung Game 3,” Reyes said. “Gusto namin siyempre mag-overachieve. ‘Yun lagi yung target namin kasi ‘di ba halos rock bottom kasi kami previous season.”
The Lady Red Spikers went 4-14 in Season 100 and missed the postseason entirely. Now, they are a win away from making it to the finals.
“Dito, i-overachieve lang namin nang i-overachieve. ‘Di naman kami titigil kasi sabi namin gusto namin pumasok ng quarters, semis, eh nandito na kami,” Reyes added. “Kumbaga gusto lang namin talunin ‘yung performance namin in the previous games.”
Kung Fu Reyes and his Lady Red Spikers will look to overachieve even more when they take on Letran in Game 3 later today, March 28, at 2:30 p.m. The winner will seal a finals date with the five-peat-seeking Benilde Lady Blazers.
