Reyes likes the challenge as competition catches up with Army

RC Cola Army. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It’s been an unpredictable 2016 for Kung Fu Reyes and his RC Cola Army.

After starting the year with a strong championship win in the Philippine Super Liga Invitational over Thai club EST Cola, the Lady Troopers slowly lost steam the rest of the year.

The Lady Troopers did win the bronze medal in the All-Filipino Conference but they failed to take a podium finish in the Grand Prix bowing out to F2 Logistics in the third place match.

Head coach Kung Fu Reyes, though, is not at all disappointed with how his team performed in the season.

“We had a good run although we came up short,” said Reyes Thursday at San Juan Arena. “We still went to battle without getting crushed, there are winners and there are losers.”

F2 Logistics upended RC Cola in five sets, 25-13, 25-20, 20-25, 20-25, 18-16, in a match Reyes said the Lady Troopers “have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“It’s not for us, and we’re thankful we got to the top four in a neck-and-neck finish,” said Reyes.

With the PSL’s three conferences per season and the Army’s duty in the AFP-PNP Olympics, Reyes said the grind has caught up with them.

Team captain and setter Tina Salak has announced her retirement after a 23-year career and fellow veteran Michelle Carolino is also on the way out.

Reyes added he’s happy to see the growth of volleyball in the country where Army is not the sole power.

Army is still the winnningest team in PSL history with five titles in its possession, but teams like Petron and Foton have staked their claim as new powers in the field.

“We’re not that dominating anymore. Before when you say Army, people would assume ‘ah, Army’s going to win,’” said Reyes. “There’s the challenge, the teams are well-supported, and the PSL is a strong league so you have to keep up.”