Krizzia Reyes looks to make late mom proud in bigger role for EAC
Published March 27, 2024 7:32pm Updated March 27, 2024 7:32pm As she takes on a huge role for Emilio Aguinaldo College in the upcoming NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball tournament, Krizzia Reyes is drawing inspiration from an important person. The 23-year-old outside hitter vowed to give pride and honor to her late mother, who died […]
Tomas Kauer - News Moderator 
Published March 27, 2024 7:32pm
Updated March 27, 2024 7:32pm
As she takes on a huge role for Emilio Aguinaldo College in the upcoming NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball tournament, Krizzia Reyes is drawing inspiration from an important person.
The 23-year-old outside hitter vowed to give pride and honor to her late mother, who died in April 2021 due to breast cancer in the midst of pandemic and whom she dedicates every game to.
“Number one supporter ko po talaga siya,” Reyes told GMA News Online.
“Since elementary, naglalaro na po kasi ako and siya talaga ‘yung nagsu-support sa akin all the way. Lahat ng gusto sinusuportahan niya ako hanggang sa college na ako.”
(She’s my number one supporter. I started playing in elementary and she was supporting me all the way. She supported me until I was in college.)
In the absence of her mother, the 5-foot-3 power hitter found a second home and family in EAC.
Months before the Season 97 women’s volleyball tourney began in June 2021, Reyes lost her number one fan but immediately rediscovered her spark thanks to the guidance of Lady Generals coach Rodrigo Palmero, whom she considers a father figure on and off the court.
“Second father po talaga siya sa amin. 2021 po kasi namatay ‘yung mother ko po, parang siya ‘yung naging nanay ko rin kasi gina-guide niya ako off the court and talagang concerned po siya sa health ko, sa studies ko, and sa family ko rin,” Reyes added.
“Hindi lang po about sa volleyball ‘yung pinaguusapan namin, sa buhay rin.”
(He was like a second father to us. My mom died in 2021, but he (Palmero) became a parent to me as well because he guides me on and off the court and is concerned about my health, studies, and family.)
Reyes then rose as one of Palmero’s most trusted players on the court and emerged as the squad’s second leading scorer in the previous Season 98 behind Cath Almazan as they finished last with a 1-8 card.
Her best outing last year was during the Lady Generals’ five-set loss to Jose Rizal University, where she poured in 30 points anchored on 27 attacks and three aces alongside 14 digs.
The fourth year EAC veteran said she will use this and her mother as her motivations for the upcoming Season 99, where the Lady Generals will eye for a better finish after getting a win and eight losses last year.
“Sobrang hirap and kumbaga namadali ‘yung pagluluksa ko kasi hindi ako pwedeng tumigil, kailangan kong magpatuloy,” she said.
“Hindi pwedeng porke nawala siya, titigil na ako. May buhay din po ako, may pangarap din ako, and may pangarap siya para sa akin. Ayon ‘yung naging way ko para mas maging strong.”
(It’s hard and it’s like my grieving period was rushed because I cannot stop, I need to move forward. It’s not like she was gone and I would stop. I have my own life and dreams, and she had a dream for me. That was my way of becoming stronger.)
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
