UST Tigresses’ coach KungFu Reyes throughout a UAAP Season 87 ladies’s volleyball recreation. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
MANILA, Philippines —With out naming any participant or faculty, College of Santo Tomas coach KungFu Reyes on Wednesday spoke about loyalty and respect for grassroots packages on the whole amid what he referred to as “unethical” recruitment practices.
HIGHLIGHTS: UAAP Season 87 volleyball playoff – UST vs La Salle
The longtime mentor addressed the problem after a number of members of the Tigresses’ teaching workers and gamers echoed sentiments on loyalty and respect after an alleged poaching incident in UST women’ volleyball program.
UST coaches Yani Fernandez and Lerma Giron shared a pointed message from the workforce’s Fb fan web page titled, “Why Construct When You Can Simply Seize?”. The publish took a swipe at packages accused of luring athletes mid-season with presents and perks.
KungFu Reyes preaches loyalty and respect. #UAAPSeason87 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/nAm9Z5XCvS
— INQUIRER Sports activities (@INQUIRERSports) Might 1, 2025
“It’s not nearly poaching—it’s about poaching whereas lessons are ongoing, as if teachers, workforce dynamics, and loyalty don’t matter. However hey, if successful means skipping the method, who cares about values, proper?” the Fb publish learn.
“Shoutout to the packages nonetheless selecting to construct, not steal. You’re the true MVPs.”
The identical web page additionally posted a video that includes homegrown abilities Detdet Pepito, Angge Poyos, Reg Jurado, Em Banagua, Marga Altea, Pia Abbu, and Sandrine Escober declaring: “UST hanggang sa huli ikaw ang pipiliin. Go USTe!”
‘Unethical timing’
UST Junior Golden Tigresses through the UAAP Season 87 Excessive College Women’ Volleyball event. –UAAP PHOTO
Whereas Reyes refused to call a participant or a faculty amid the net buzz, experiences are swirling that UST highschool captain Jaila Adrao is transferring faculties and taking her act to a champion workforce.
“There’s been lots of curiosity in our grassroots program, and we’re about that as a result of it means we’re doing the best factor. We’re molding these children in preparation for school, however after all they’ve the free will to decide on the place they need to go subsequent. However [I don’t think it’s right] to depart in the midst of Grade 11, as a result of there’s nonetheless Grade 12,” Reyes informed reporters in Filipino.
READ: Behind UST’s unbeaten begin in UAAP volleyball: The ‘incredible’ teaching workers
“Recruiting Grade 11 [players] may be very unethical, nevertheless it has turn into the norm one way or the other. However right here in UST, the youngsters have the liberty to decide on after commencement. Sadly, instances like this occur.”
Reyes mentioned that he understands that intensive recruitment–and in flip, poaching–is nothing new in collegiate sports activities, however he believes that leaving this system through the tutorial yr isn’t the right time.
READ: UST Growling Tigers flex recruiting muscle
“There are student-athletes who have a look at the scholarship and all of the privileges, so it may well cease or change the course of the kid’s program, particularly by way of teachers. To not brag, however because you’re already in UST–why not get your diploma [here], then after that you could get your diploma from La Salle, Ateneo or whatsover,” he mentioned.
“These are the issues we need to educate the youngsters—to be grateful one way or the other. It’s actually about the best timing, however possibly they will’t resist the whispers of presents.”
Nothing new for UST
UST Tigresses throughout a recreation in opposition to NU Girl Bulldogs within the UAAP Season 87 ladies’s volleyball event. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
Bidding farewell to star highschool gamers is just not new for UST because it let go of former Junior Tigresses stars Alyssa Valdez, Jaja Santiago, Dindin Manabat, and Kim Fajardo, who turned out to be stars of their respective universities and made their names in Philippine volleyball.
However Reyes took exception to gamers leaving with out ending senior highschool.
“Having our gamers from the grassroots program poached has been a part of the league, however at UST, we don’t get bored with producing and coaching children though it hurts [when they leave], ” the UST women’ and girls’s coach mentioned.
Reyes on ‘unethical’ switch: Possibly they gained the championship, pero kung medyo unethical ang pangyayari, you gained’t get my respect regardless of the end result na meron ka. #UAAPSeason87 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/NaQ8X336f7
— INQUIRER Sports activities (@INQUIRERSports) Might 1, 2025
“Possibly [they will end up] successful champions, however when you gained’t get my respect regardless of the end result chances are you’ll get if the way in which it occurred was considerably unethical. It will be very hypocritical of us to say that we’re not affected by these items as a result of we now have packages set for these children.”
He mentioned UST is comfortable to let gamers go, particularly if the transfer advantages their careers—citing examples like Van Bangayan and Khy Cepada, now with UE, and NCAA champion Gayle Pascual from Saint Benilde.
“Not everybody will get absorbed at UST as a result of there’s a standards that we have to comply with due to the robust competitors. A few of them go to the NCAA and different faculties. The newest are Bangayan and Cepada,” mentioned Reyes. “Had they stayed, they gained’t find yourself being the gamers they’re now.”
‘Due respect’
The UST coach added that additionally they recruit gamers from provinces like Beth Hilongo, Arlene Waje, Ashlee Knop, Johna Ajero, and Freya Elderfield–however did so in the best manner by asking permission.
“We additionally recruit gamers from different provinces, however we don’t meddle within the grassroots packages of our fellow UAAP groups as a result of we all know how one can recruit gamers the instantly. This with all due respect to their coaches,” he mentioned.
Regardless of the controversy, Reyes mentioned UST will proceed creating younger expertise and solely ask for gamers and households to present notices and half methods correctly.
“We’re going to let the gamers go, we simply hope they ask permission correctly. There’s no cause for them to remain if there’s a lack of belief,” he mentioned.
Reyes, although, wished the participant he refused to call–however known as the workforce’s captain, who’s believed to be Adrao–nicely together with her new workforce.
“I hope she does nicely there—possibly they may give her what we lacked. We’re grateful to the mother and father who entrusted us with these children, and that different faculties are excited by them,” Reyes added.
“As soon as upon a time, she was our workforce chief, our captain. She helped us win bronze. I’ll keep in mind her not for the way she left, however how she first got here to us, holding her mother and father’ arms—and the way now, she’ll stroll out with another person guiding her.”
