Coach Mike Reyes opens new chapter in his glittering career

CEBU, Philippines — Coach Mike Reyes will embark on a new challenge in his highly decorated career after being named as program director for basketball of Far Eastern University (FEU) in the UAAP.

In a social media post on Tuesday, June 17, FEU announced that Reyes will now take charge of the school’s 19 Under and 16 Under teams while working closely with Tamaraws coach Sean Chambers.

“A former Baby Tamaraw, Coach Mike will now be tasked to take the reins of the UAAP Boys 19 and Boys 16 basketball teams as well as work hand in hand with Coach Sean Chambers to ensure a consistent approach in developing student-athletes from Junior High School to College,” FEU said in an official statement.

“Mike Reyes is extremely accomplished in his work with youth athletes having won championships in the UAAP and the CESAFI. He brings his constraints-led coaching philosophy to the FEU basketball program.”

Reyes, a former Baby Tamaraw and brother of TNT Tropang 5G head coach Chot Reyes, carries with him an inch-thick of shining credentials.

He served as assistant coach of the Pampanga Dragons and head coach of the Iloilo Volts in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) before making a name in Cebu sports as the most trusted lieutenant of the late Yayoy Alcoseba with the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Jewelers that bagged multiple championships in both local and national leagues two decades ago.

Coach Mike also called the shots for the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors before reuniting with Alcoseba at the Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras wherein they savored another championship glory during the 2012 season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).

Seven years later, Reyes steered the Cobras to the CESAFI crown, cementing his status as one of the top coaches in Cebu’s premier inter-school athletic league.

At the height of pandemic in 2021, Reyes spurred the KCS Computer Specialist–Mandaue City to the Visayas leg title of the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup.

He had a brief stint with Cebu Classic in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) this season before leaving the team besieged by financial troubles.

Then came the opportunity to serve his beloved alma mater.