University of San Carlos (USC) head coach Mike Reyes has traded in the green and yellow for the blue and orange of the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras.
This was confirmed by Reyes in a coaching development that is expected to send shockwaves throughout Cebu’s collegiate basketball scene.
Reyes, the brother of Talk ‘N Text’s champion head coach Chot Reyes, will now join forces with SWU head coach Raul “Yayoy”Alcoseba.
It is a combination that the SWU brass will hope to lead not just to a title in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. but also in the national level, particularly the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL).
The tandem of Alcoseba and Reyes has produced several titles for the MLKP-Cebu Niños in different tournaments.
Reyes spent eight years in USC as the basketball program consultant and as head coach of the Warriors.
His contract was set to be renewed by USC but according to Reyes, he told management that he was not going to renew with them.
“I spent eight years there. Siyempre, malungkot ako sa pag-alis pero ganyan talaga ang buhay eh,”said Reyes told Cebu Daily News.
As an assistant coach to then head coach Jay Ramirez, the Warriors made it to the Cesafi finals in 2006 and 2007, but both times fell to the University of the Visayas Green Lancers.
SWU athletic director Ryan Aznar was ecstatic that Reyes is now in their fold. He admitted he has been trying to lure Reyes to the Cobras since the departure of former head coach Dodie Miego.
“It is a plus factor that (Raul) Yayoy Alcoseba is our head coach. I don’t know yet what the coaching dynamics will be but it’s a cinch that Mike (Reyes) will be the top deputy of Yayoy.”
As for the USC Warriors, it remains to be seen who will take over the mantle of head coach but sources say that the top candidate would be assistant coach Lawrence “Tata” Merced.
When pressed for a comment, Merced remained non-committal and left it all for management to decide in the coming days.