CEBU-BASED veteran coach Mike Reyes is bringing his coaching expertise back to Manila.
This, after Far Eastern University (FEU), one of the prominent educational institutions in the country, appointed him as its new basketball program director, replacing Denok Miranda.
Reyes accepted the offer last Monday (June 16, 2025) from Mark Oliver Molina, FEU’s Senior Director for Athletics.
“I received the call last Monday. I was surprised. Mark (Molina) said they wanted me to report immediately. So, I’m here now,” said Reyes, a former coach of the University of San Carlos and Southwestern University (SWU) in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi).
Reyes said this was unexpected because during his initial meeting with Molina, they had agreed that his potential involvement might happen next year yet, pending any vacancy.
“But Denok (Miranda) suddenly left, so he called me immediately,” added Reyes, brother of TNT Giga coach Chot Reyes and former Gilas Pilipinas mentor.
Reyes also hinted at the possibility of bringing his assistant coaches from Cebu, depending on the situation.
“It’s difficult to let people go. Unless they don’t want to work anymore or do mischievous things. But for now, they’re okay. They’ve been there at FEU for a long time,” Reyes explained.
Should it come to that, Reyes said he would prioritize Vince Urot, Jax Bautista, and his son, Kim.
Having spent over two decades in Cebu, Reyes said he already feels like a
native Cebuano.
He first arrived in Cebu in 2004 as a sports coordinator at the University of San Carlos and was later promoted to head coach.
A few years later, he steered the SWU Cobras to the Cesafi championship in 2019.
He also guided KCS Computer Specialist-Mandaue City to the 1st Visayas leg title in the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup two years later.
Most recently, Reyes was tapped to coach Cebu Classic in the 2025 MPBL Season, but his stint was cut short due to financial issues.
Now, he has a new home where he will serve as the head coach of the FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws in the upcoming UAAP season.
Reyes is the fourth Cebuano or Cebu-based coach hired by a Manila-based university this year, following Rob Labagala and Chelito Caro (San Sebastian College) and Edcel Vallena (Jose Rizal University). (JBM)