It’s been a long road back to the UAAP for Mike Reyes.
After leading Ateneo High School to the top of the junior ranks in 1998, he went all over the country.
He coached Iloilo in the defunct MBA, became an assistant coach in the PBA, before eventually moving to Cebu.
In Cebu, he coached the University of San Carlos and Southwestern University, leading the latter to the CESAFI championship in 2019.
Before UAAP Season 88, Reyes returned to Manila to serve as both the head of basketball operations of Far Eastern University and the head coach of the Baby Tamaraws.
On Monday, his journey back to Manila culminated in a championship, steering FEU-Diliman back to the top after three years with an epic 106-102 overtime win over the NUNS Bullpups.
“It’s a very, very different feeling because 28 years back, medyo iba ang basketball eh. Di ba?” shared the younger brother of TNT head coach Chot Reyes.
“The evolution of basketball ngayon, iba na.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
That is why, when Reyes stepped in as Baby Tamaraws head coach, he made sure to first gather his assistant coaches, led by Muriel Garcia.
“From day one, pagpasok ko dito, sa first meeting with all the coaches, sinabi ko sa kanila, ‘Ang magiging success ng lahat nitong year na to ay dahil sa inyong lahat.’ I will lead this, pero kayong lahat ang pag-asa para makuha natin ang championship.”
FEU-Diliman ended the elimination round tied with Ateneo for second place.
The Baby Tamaraws then won the playoff for second before eliminating the Blue Eagles on their home floor.
FEU-D capped its campaign with three hard-fought games against NUNS, securing the school’s 10th championship in the division.
But more than the championship, Reyes is glad to have provided a platform for his other seniors.
Of course, the duo of Cabs Cabonilas and Marc Burgos is already given.
But it was the likes of Sam Hall, Yosef Rañeses, and John Santos who were able to showcase themselves to college coaches.
“Ang talagang pinakamasayang nangyari with this championship is we all know Cabs and Burgos, may kukuha sa kanila sa college, but sila Sam, Rañeses, and John Santos, nakita ni Coach Sean (Chambers) kung anong magagawa nila,” said Reyes.
“So, maybe, they will be given a shot in our college team.”
