By MARK REY MONTEJO
For any school, recruitment is one of the toughest phases of the off-season.
That is why training athletes at a very young age and making them the foundation of a collegiate team is the common path of every school.
But University of Santo Tomas head coach Kungfu Reyes, who carries a long list of credentials as a mentor to many stars of today, slammed the “unethical recruitment” in the seniors tournaments.
“Sabi ko nga no’ng nakaraan, mino-mold namin ‘tong mga bata papunta rito sa college, pero ‘yon nga they have free will to choose kung saan nila gustong mag-stay or mag-continue ng academics nila,” said Reyes.
“Pero wag naman sana do’n sa alanganing grade, like do’n banda sa Grade 11, 12, ganun, very unethical somehow, ganun ‘yong naging kalakaran eh, pero samin naman proud kami na may kumukuha na mula sa program namin,” he added.
Reyes has been known for discovering some of UST’s current stars in the likes of Angge Poyos, Detdet Pepito, Reg Jurado, Mabeth Hilongo, Em Banagua, and Blessing Unekwe, to list a few, while continuously bolstering the school’s grassroot programs.
Aside from them, Khy Cepada and Nessa Bangayan played as well under the tutelage of Reyes in the high school division but the two decided to continue their college education at University of the East.
“Pero hindi nga lahat pwedeng ma-absorb kasi may mga demand din or criteria na pwedeng ilaban no’ng isa [ibang school], ang taas ng competition eh,” Reyes stressed.
“Kami rin naman nagre-recruit from other provinces pero hindi kami nangingialam ng grassroot program ng kapwa namin na nasa UAAP. Kasi alam namin ‘yong tama na pagkuha ng mga players,” he added.” Kasi nga with due respect na ‘yon sa mga coaches ‘yan… hindi naman ‘to bago.”
Reyes strongly believed that loyalty is a must.
“From zero to hero, from nothing to something, we’re on the right track. Marami pang bata na pupunta, regardless, ‘di lang naman ‘to ngayong taon nangyayari ‘yan,” continued Reyes.
“Pero syempre we’re still optimistic… kasi you can’t buy loyalty… ako mula naging estudyante ako hanggang sa nagtrabaho ako, ano lang naman ‘to for the love of the game… I’m really grateful for UST, again ‘yong grassroot program namin nakukuhaan kami, I think somehow nagiging unethical,” he added.
UST recently closed out its run as the bronze finisher after yielding to De La Salle University in the semifinal. The Golden Tigresses concluded their elimination at third place with a 9-5 tally despite having a three-game slide and a couple of injuries bugging their roster.
“Maybe they won the championship but kung medyo unethical ‘yong nangyayari, you will not get my respect, whatever ‘yong result,” said Reyes. “Napahipokrito naman namin pag sinabi namin na ‘di kami naaapektuhan sa mga bagay-bagay kasi nga may mga program kami sa mga bata… ang pray lang namin wag mapabayaan ‘yong welfare no’ng bata, ‘yong education.”
