IN THE world of sports, athletes often reach a point where their careers come to an end due to various reasons—whether it be age, injuries, the natural progression of their athletic journey, or simply just a change of heart.

It may be a significant adjustment for these athletes at first because they are accustomed to living their lives around the things they perform on a regular basis. Some may feel lost, as if their life’s purpose has been taken away. 

However, for some Filipino sportsmen, the end does not represent failure or a lack of fire, but rather a redirection, a shift to new heights that allows them to express their love of competition in a different field.

Venturing Out

The conclusion of an athletic career does not indicate the end of a passion. Instead, it represents a new beginning in which the principles learnt on the court, field, or track can lead to greater success outside of sports. 

For many athletes, terminating their sports careers might feel like a personal loss because it has become an important part of their identity, and adjusting to life after their peak athletic years can be difficult. 

However, sportsmen such as Mikee Reyes, Chris Tiu, and Dyan Castillejo have shown that such transitions may be viewed as opportunities for growth and reinvention rather than failures or shortcomings.

Mikee Reyes

Mikee Reyes was a former basketball player and one of the UP Fighting Maroons’ leading scorers. The 5-foot-9 guard helped the institution stop its 27-game losing record in the UAAP in Season 77. 

He was picked by the TNT KaTropa in the 2016 PBA Draft but did not sign. This prompted him to compete in other competitions, including the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) and the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). 

Reyes decided to call it quits in 2019, when he played his final professional basketball game. Despite his exit from the sport, he remained relevant and went full-time into broadcasting.

Photo Courtesy: KC Cruz

However, Reyes had already tasted this route. In 2015, he was an NCAA basketball analyst for ABS-CBN, followed by GMA Network when the league relocated to the network in 2020, and finally One Sports. 

When COVID-19 struck, he set out to create a podcast including well-known players. This enabled him to stay involved in basketball, sharing his knowledge and thoughts with fans who shared his passion for the sport. 

Now, understanding that there is more in store for him, the former UP star attempted to branch out once more and began his social media content creator phase, going by the name “Tito Mikee”.

Rather than considering his departure from basketball as a setback, Reyes used it to educate and entertain others through the stories he share, becoming a prominent figure in Filipino sports and lifestyle.

Dyan Castillejo

When you hear her voice on television, you already know who is speaking. That is how experienced broadcaster Dyan Castillejo-Garcia, better known by her maiden name, has established herself in the media industry. 

However, Castillejo began her career as a tennis player, representing the Philippines in Fed Cup matches from 1981 until 1990. 

Aside from that, she competed at the Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, Junior Wimbledon, and Junior US Open. She was also the first Filipino to reach the WTA women’s rankings.

Photo Courtesy: @asicsph | Instagram

Castillejo received the International Tennis Federation’s Fed Cup Commitment Award in 2017, making her the first Filipino to receive the honor. The award is given to players who have played at least 20 World Group matches or 40 matches at any level. 

Following her tennis career, she transitioned to the media industry and quickly achieved success in sports journalism and television, becoming one of the most respected characters in Filipino sports media. 

Her athletic background provided her with a distinct viewpoint in her reporting, allowing her to talk truthfully and authoritatively about all of the sports she covered.

Castillejo’s career proves that athletes can utilize their platform to teach and inform, helping to promote sports and inspire future generations, no matter what profession they’re in.

Chris Tiu

Christopher “Chris” John Alandy-Dy Tiu was a well-known Filipino professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Ateneo Blue Eagles, where he won the UAAP championship in 2008. 

He spent his whole professional career with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, having being selected seventh overall in the 2012 PBA Rookie Draft. Tiu even won a title at the Commissioner’s Cup in 2016. 

Aside from his professional career, he also played for the Philippine national basketball team, the Smart Gilas Pilipinas, and was captain of the group that competed in the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship.

Photo Courtesy: @chris_tiu17 | Instagram

Tiu’s PBA career, however, was cut short, as he only played in the league for six years. The former face of Ateneo has announced his retirement from basketball in 2019. 

Aside from basketball, he became a TV broadcaster, model, and businessman. He presented the television show iBilib on GMA, but what drove him closer to success was going full-time with his enterprises. 

Tiu had Happy Lemon, which was brought in from abroad nearly a decade ago and is still thriving well. He and his business partner have also brought on Eric Kayser, a French Boulangerie that makes and bakes bread.

In addition, Chris Tiu’s family owns or controls a number of major enterprises, including the Discovery Suites at Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Sterling Bank of Asia, and others.

Define Your Success

At the end of the day, the definition of success will always be subjective. These athletes may have had successful collegiate or professional careers, but that may not be enough for them to find the fulfillment they seek in life. 

Undeniably, all of these players’ careers should not be seen as evidence of an incapacity to pursue their passion. Instead, their transformations are a powerful reminder that passion is not a limited resource. 

Their success stories demonstrate that athletic careers are only one chapter in a bigger journey, and that redirection, not limitation, is the ultimate definition of success.