A Little W for His Little One: Fatherhood Gives Jimmy Reyes a Bigger Reason to Keep Pushing

For Jimmy Reyes, every game comes with its own highs and lows. But no matter how things turn out on the court, the San Beda guard knows that one smile waiting for him at home can make everything feel a little better.

Since becoming a father during the offseason, Reyes has found a new source of purpose, one that gives him another reason to work hard and keep pushing himself.

“It’s been wonderful. It’s a lot of ups and downs, too, but I think it’s the best blessing I’ve ever had in my life,” Reyes told ALL-STAR.

Whether Reyes comes home after a good game, a bad game, or simply a difficult day, seeing his baby’s smile has become something he looks forward to.

“Every time I come home and I see a smile on my baby’s face, it just lights up my day every day,” Reyes shared. 

“No matter what happens in my life, I know that I got a reminder that I got to get up every day, work hard, and I got to provide and just be the best father I could be.”

Playing for More Than Himself

That responsibility has also given Reyes a new source of motivation in basketball. While he admitted that the season has not gone the way he envisioned for himself, he remains determined to help the Red Lions finish their campaign with a championship, now with an even more personal reason to keep performing.

“This season definitely hasn’t been the season I’ve wanted for myself but I think it definitely motivates me. We want to win this chip, and on the court, I just got to keep performing because I got to keep providing for him,” Reyes said.

But beyond providing for his son, Reyes hopes to become someone his son can look up to as he grows older. He wants his child to watch him play someday and take pride in the person he becomes, whatever Reyes chooses to pursue.

“I want him to see me on the court when he gets older. I want him to really see me on the court and look up to me. I hope he becomes proud of me, whatever I do,” he said.

For now, his son is still too young to understand the game or the work his father puts into it. But he is already a constant presence in Reyes’ thoughts, from the moment he wakes up to every time he steps onto the court.

A Birthday W

And today, as Reyes and the San Beda Red Lions closed out the elimination round with a win over Benilde to secure the NCAA’s top spot, he had another reason to celebrate: his son turned five months old.

“Yeah, that W definitely, you know, a little birthday W for his five-month anniversary,” Reyes said.

For the new father, the victory was made even sweeter by a milestone at home, giving him one more reason to smile after a successful day on the court.