The decision of a former Junior Growling Tigress to leave the grassroots program of University of Santo Tomas has been a bitter pill to swallow for long-time head coach Kungfu Reyes.
While student-athlete movement has become a norm in the highly competitive landscape of the UAAP, Reyes admitted that what stung most was not the transfer itself — but its timing.
More than anything, the UST mentor expressed concern over the recruitment process, especially amid reports that a certain Tigress in question is still a Grade 11 senior high school student at UST.
“Ongoing pa ang klase, magco-commit sa team, ‘eh siyempre may mga student-athletes na titignan yung scholarship and all the privileges, kaya masta-stop or maiiba yung programa ng bata, especially doon sa academics. Hindi naman sa pagbra-brag, pero nasa UST ka na ‘eh, kuha ka na ng diploma sa UST. Then after that, pwede ka kumuha ng diploma sa La Salle, Ateneo, or whatsoever,” Reyes told reporters following UST’s four-set loss to De La Salle University in the playoff for the No. 2 seed of the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Those things, ‘yon yung gusto namin maituro sa bata na somehow maging grateful. Nasa tamang panahon naman talaga dapat. Siguro lang may mga ibang bulong na they can’t resist the offers.”
Tasked with steering UST to its long-awaited championship glory, Reyes said that the player’s departure was a painful blow to a system that has long valued loyalty — especially from those who rose through the Junior Golden Tigresses’ ranks and stayed committed to the women’s volleyball program.
Notable players such as Detdet Pepito, Angge Poyos, Marga Altea, Sandrine Escober, Regina Jurado, and Arlene Waje all came from the same junior program and played key roles in UST’s 9-5 finish in the Season 87 elimination round.
“Ang sa akin lang, mas gusto ko maalala kung paano sila pumasok sa amin — na from zero to hero, from nothing to something. We were on the right track, sana. Marami pang batang pupunta, pero regardless, hindi lang ito yung taon na nangyayari ‘yan. Pero we’re still optimistic kasi meron kami Detdet Pepito na mula Grade 7 nandito sa amin. Meron kaming Marga Altea. Kasi you can’t buy loyalty,” Reyes shared.
“Maybe they won the championship, pero kung medyo unethical ang pangyayari, you won’t get my respect whatever the result na meron ka. Napakahipokrito naman namin kung sabihin namin na hindi kami naaapektuhan sa mga bagay-bagay, kasi may mga programa kami para sa mga batang ‘yon.”
Reyes, who is UST’s program director for women’s volleyball, acknowledged that recruitment has always been competitive. Still, he emphasized that their staff has rarely pursued talents from the grassroots programs of fellow UAAP schools.
Instead, UST has long taken pride in developing provincial standouts — athletes like Johna Ajero, Freya Elderfield, Maribeth Hilongo, Ashlee Knop, and Waje — who were discovered from the provinces before moving to España.
“Hindi nga lahat kaya i-absorb kasi may mga demand din or criteria na pwede ilaban mo rito kasi ang taas na ng competition. Kami rin naman, nagre-recruit din kami from other provinces, pero hindi kami nakikialam sa grassroots program ng kapwa namin na nasa UAAP, kasi alam namin yung tama na pagkuha ng mga player,” Reyes said.
“With due respect na lang din sa mga coaches nila. Kami naman, again, hindi naman ito bago. Sanay naman kami masaktan kahit papaano. Huwag ka lang dapat bibitaw.”.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Despite the emotional loss, Reyes remains focused on the road ahead, with UST expected to undergo some changes in the offseason. Key seniors such as Renee Penafiel, Jonna Perdido, and Pepito may be graduating, leaving room for younger players to step up.
“Again, at the end of the day, we hope na yung welfare at yung program, magtuloy-tuloy. Hindi na nga lang sa bakuran namin, sa kabilang bakod na.
“Yung best ng welfare ng mga bata ang concern pa rin namin. Kasi once upon a time, nagsuot ng jersey namin ‘yan. Once upon a time, naging team leader pa namin ‘yan, kasi naging captain ball pa ‘yan. Once upon a time, naging bronze rin sa amin. Maraming good memories. Pero sa akin, ang gusto ko maalala sa kanya is kung paano sila dumating sa amin — na akay-akay pa ng magulang — pero lalabas sila na iba na yung may-ari,” Reyes concluded.
While Reyes did not mention a specific name, social media posts have suggested that Jalia Adrao — one of the Junior Growling Tigresses’ top contributors in their back-to-back bronze finishes in Seasons 86 and 87 — is about to join another top-tier UAAP girls’ volleyball program.
#WATCH: “KAMI NAGPALAKI PERO IBANG BAKOD ANG MAGBUBUNGA”
UST Women’s Volleyball Program Director Kungfu Reyes airs frustration over the “poaching” of high school student-athletes 🏐
📹 @ernesttuazon /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/Sr91Lynusc
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 30, 2025
