Kungfu pledges loyalty to UST

Despite having a new role as head coach of San Beda University, Kungfu Reyes will still be loyal to University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

In a report by The Varsitarian, the official student organ of UST, the 44-year-old Reyes said his decision to call the shots for the Lady Red Spikers will not affect his role as program director of the girl’s and women’s volleyball teams of UST.

“Mixed emotions,” Reyes said.

“This is a new challenge for me and I’m happy because I will be entering an entirely new territory. But I’ll be there for volleyball so there will be nothing unusual.”

In a development that was reported by DAILY TRIBUNE last week, Reyes was tapped to call the shots for the Lady Red Spikers in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

It’s going to be Reyes’ first time to coach in the NCAA after leading UST to six Final Four appearances in 10 years.

UST, however, promoted him as women’s and girls’ volleyball program director while naming Shaq delos Santos as head coach of the Growling Tigresses.

Reyes will also still call the shots for the UST girls’ volleyball team and will stay as deputy of head coach Norman Miguel at Chery Tiggo in the Premier Volleyball League.

UST athletic director Fr. Rodel Cansancio doesn’t see any conflict in this setup.

“UST allows its coaches to hold outside coaching positions provided that there’s no conflict,” Cansancio said.

At San Beda, Reyes will be facing a tough challenge.

In fact, he is set to become the school’s fifth head coach in five seasons following the firing of Nemesio Gavino, Dong dela Cruz, Edgar Barroga and Joshua Noda, who called the shots in an interim capacity.

San Beda had a miserable campaign in Season 100 of the NCAA with a 4-14 record, a stint that was marred by controversy when Barroga was relieved midway through the season.

But more than that, the Lady Red Spikers are just one of the only three teams that have yet to win a title since the league’s inaugural volleyball season 50 years ago together with Mapua University and Jose Rizal University.

Reyes will be handling a young core of Lady Red Spikers bannered by incoming third-year outside spiker Angel Habacon together with Janelle Bachar, Kat Molina, Rianne Bedural and Patricia Hiponia.

“Our goal is to uplift the volleyball program of San Beda,” he said.

“Hopefully, we’ll overachieve. I hope we can improve their standing and, hopefully, make it to the Final Four.”

Still, his loyalty remains with UST — the school that took a chance on him when he was still a high school player from Lucena City in Quezon Province.

“San Beda is an independent institution. It has its own program. We’re just there to help them improve and uplift their volleyball program,” Reyes said, vowing to still go all out in recruiting talents at UST.