By: Now PR Agency
Last year, the shot that made Tiffany Reyes famous lasted only a fraction of a second. But the most interesting thing about Reyes has very little to do with that single buzzer-beater in Malaysia.
At just 15 years old, Reyes has already experienced the spotlight. Her game-winning basket against Korea at the FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup 2025 gave the Gilas Girls their first-ever Division A victory and placed her name into the conversation about the future of Philippine women’s basketball. It happened to fall on her birthday, a detail that only amplified its significance. However, what makes Reyes different from many rising prospects is her deliberate choice to grow in the game.
When Reyes was a child, basketball was always a part of her life. Raised in Muntinlupa City, Reyes grew up in a household where sports were treated as more than simple extracurricular hobbies. Her father, Jayr Reyes, played professional basketball for years and represented the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. Her mother, Jen Reyes, played volleyball for UP. Athletics and commitment were simply part of the family dynamic.
That early exposure influenced the way Reyes sees basketball today. She studies spacing, reads defenses, and trusts timing. Even in high-pressure moments, she plays with patience. That mindset was on full display at the FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup. Facing Korea, a program with a long history of international success, the Gilas Girls found themselves in a position few Philippine youth teams had occupied before: a chance to win in Division A. With seconds remaining, Reyes received the ball and executed without hesitation.
To her, it was not a miracle shot. It was simply the result of an opportunity to attend a preparation meeting. In fact, the buzzer-beater helped her to clarify that growth sometimes needs discomfort, too.
Shortly after competing for De La Salle-Zobel, Reyes made one of the most challenging decisions a young athlete can face: to leave home. Transitioning from Manila to the United States meant stepping into a more physical style of basketball while navigating cultural shifts and unfamiliar environments.
“My experience transitioning from Manila to the States was a big change for me,” she admits. “Especially getting to know new people and the culture, it was something I had never experienced before.”
In the U.S., Reyes quickly learned that talent alone does not guarantee opportunity. Every possession is contested, and every minute on the court is earned. She entered the highly competitive AAU circuit, joining the West Virginia Thunder UAA program in September 2024. For athletes with Division I aspirations, AAU basketball is equal parts exposure and pressure.
“I am currently working on my confidence, being more aggressive on both ends, and just getting better every day,” she says.
Reyes does not see improvement as an urgency because she understands that sustainable basketball careers are built over time. At 13, Reyes was the youngest player selected to the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s U18 National Team, competing in the SEABA Qualifiers for the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup in Thailand. Against Indonesia, she hit three consecutive three-pointers to help secure a tournament sweep and a Division B berth for the team. The moment hinted at what was to come, but even then, Reyes did not chase attention. Instead, she kept learning.
Watching Reyes play today, it is easy to notice influences from her idols. She has cited Stephen Curry as someone she admired growing up, and traces of that influence appear in her confidence and off-ball movement. But more importantly, she understands the weight of representation.
“It means a lot to me that I am able to represent my country,” Reyes says. “It gives me so much pride and honor to wear our country’s flag.”
Tiffany Reyes is mentally disciplined and dedicated to the process rather than the outcome. Her rise suggests that the sport’s future will be built by players who understand timing, patience, and long-term growth. At just 15, Reyes already knows something many athletes take years to learn: that greatness is not about arriving early, but about staying ready.