Reyes polishes game in US

MANILA, Philippines — Tiffany Anne Ablan Reyes is in the US pursuing a college scholarship and, equally as precious, get better – if not the best – in the sport she and her family loves, basketball.

“I’m working and training under Coach Dante Harlan for about three months now here in the US,” Reyes said. “It is great to learn and experience a lot of things and improve everyday to pursue my goals and be the best.”

Only 14, five-foot-11 and growing, Reyes has sports running in her veins – her dad is 6-foot-7 Jay-R Reyes who played a significant 14 seasons in the Philippine Basketball Association after dominating the shade for Letran and University of the Philippines, while her mom, Jen or Jennifer, donned the national volleyball team colors.

Her elder brother, Tyler, is also carving a basketball career and they are together in Cincinnati training under Harlan as well as coach Christopher Thomas.

Harlan has a reputable US NCAA Division I career highlighted by 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Angels and once handled Kai Sotto, Jack Animam and Sage Tolentino, while One World Dominator founder Thomas’s been a professional coach for more than 20 years and made remarkable rounds in the European leagues.

Reyes already made her mark at a ripe age – she’s one of the reliables in the Gilas Pilipinas Under-18 program, having played in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association in Thailand last May where the Philippines was unblemished in three games.

Reyes averaged 6.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in her second stint at Gilas in the FIBA U-18 Women’s Asia Cup Division B last June in China where they again swept their four games to top the division.