March 16 was more than just a date on the calendar for Kungfu Reyes; it was a day of remarkable triumphs and unexpected turns, where inconvenience morphed into victory, and stress melted away into celebration.
The day dawned with a challenge for Reyes, as both of his teams, Chery Tiggo in the PVL and University of Santo Tomas (UST) women's squad in the UAAP, were scheduled for crucial matches at distant venues.
For Chery Tiggo, the mission was daunting: facing defending champion Creamline at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna at 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, UST's Golden Tigresses aimed to maintain their flawless record against Adamson University at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City at 4 p.m.
Navigating this logistical nightmare seemed improbable until fate intervened in the form of a technical glitch at the UAAP games, delaying the start time and offering Reyes a glimmer of hope.
"Bago pa lang ako umalis ng bahay tinitingnan ko yung Pilipinas Live kasi alas diez na sabi ko ‘wala pa akong nakikita’ kasi nagbibreakfast pa lang ako kasi papunta ako ng Santa Rosa by 11 aalis ako, sabi ko ‘wala pa’ tapos suddenly nagmessage sa group si sir Rod Roque yun na nga may delay so binagalan ko nang konti yung pagkakape ko," said Reyes.
With this unexpected delay, Reyes strategized and led his Chery Tiggo team to a stunning upset over Creamline, ending their 19-game winning streak and securing a crucial victory in Santa Rosa.
Meanwhile, in the heart of Quezon City, the UAAP games unfolded in a marathon of thrilling matches. Despite the delay, UST's Golden Tigresses entered the court ready to extend their unbeaten run, overcoming Adamson University in a hard-fought battle that stretched into the evening hours.
“Actually parang mas naging medyo magaan na may delay pero syempre wala namang may gusto pero yun na nga tumama sa amin yung ganong pagkakataon,” said the long-time UST tactician.
“Luckily, medyo nakaabot at nakapagpahinga. Actually, nakakain pa ako eh, ang dami pang kwentuhan eh. Naabutan ko yung first set ng ano (La Salle vs NU women) mamaya-maya fifth set na. Medyo nakarelax naman ako konti kasi coming from game sa Santa Rosa, takbuhin in two hours at least nakahabol so malaking bagay pa rin,” he continued.
Through miles traveled, strategic huddles, and nerve-wracking moments, Reyes orchestrated a flawless day, propelled by the stellar performances of his teams and the unexpected gift of time.
In the end, what began as a logistical nightmare transformed into a perfect symphony of sportsmanship and triumph for Kungfu Reyes.
