When Mike Reyes entered the newly refurbished Blue Eagle Gym last February 25, he couldn’t help but marvel at the changes in the gymnasium where he grew up.
Not only did the gym now feature new seats and flooring, but it also boasted a jumbotron.
“Sobrang ganda. Iniisip ko, kung panahon ko ‘to, sarap ng buhay dito,” said Mike, the younger brother of TNT head coach Chot Reyes.
Coach Mike is a true-blue Atenean, having studied and played in Katipunan from elementary through college.
He also got his start in coaching at Ateneo, handling both the women’s and high school boys’ teams in the ’90s. There, he led the then-Blue Eaglets to championships in Seasons 57 (1994) and 59 (1996).
His coaching journey would later take him to Iloilo in the MBA, and subsequently to Cebu, where he coached University of San Carlos and Southwestern University.
Still, his memories at Ateneo remain close to his heart.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Siyempre, ‘yung practices ’yung pinaka-hindi ko makakalimutan. Nakakatuwa yung women’s team namin dati dahil lagi silang may sandwiches for you,” he quipped. “Madami ring players ang dumaan sa amin noon, sina Larry (Fonacier), Wesley (Gonzales), Enrico (Villanueva), BJ (Manalo), Chris (Quimpo), Ben Ibuyan, sila Justin Abrera, LA Mumar. Puro champion. Ryan Pamintuan and JP Cabrera.
“Madaming memories talaga. We also got to watch Chot’s games here dahil dito ginagawa yung UAAP dati.”
That is why facing Ateneo in his first year as head coach of Far Eastern University-Diliman has been especially meaningful.
However, the crucial stages of the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament will also be bittersweet, as he will have to go through his alma mater.
On Sunday, the Baby Tamaraws and the Blue Eagles will face off in a match that carries the twice-to-beat advantage. If National University Nazareth School also defeats De La Salle-Zobel, it could lead to an FEU-Diliman–Ateneo High School clash in the Final Four.
“Grabe nga yung timing. Nung naisip ko ‘yun, malamang kami na ng Ateneo. Ateneo pa of all teams,” he shared.
“I just have to prepare us to try to compete with Ateneo. It’s the job right now. Bittersweet talaga kasi yung mga coaching staff ng Ateneo, anak ng classmates ko, tapos yung isa, anak ng kabarkada ko sa Ateneo.”
Ateneo stunned FEU-Diliman in their first-round encounter, taking a 90-71 victory. That is why, in their Sunday showdown, Coach Mike hopes his Baby Tamaraws can keep up with the discipline of the young Eagles.
“We know how gaano kalakas ang Ateneo and how disciplined they play. We have to be disciplined for 40 minutes to be able to have a chance to be able to compete with them.”
