Reymark Betco waited patiently for his moment.
For one match, the explosive young opposite spiker from the College of Saint Benilde could only watch from the sidelines as Savouge fell flat in its opening-day loss to Alpha Insurance. He was eager, restless, and hungry to contribute — yet all he could do was cheer, as the Spin Doctors stumbled to a four-set defeat to start their 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference campaign.
But when opportunity knocked, Betco answered with thunder.
Inserted into the lineup against debuting Far Eastern University–DN Steel, the 20-year-old made sure to make up for lost time. He erupted for 21 points — all coming from powerful attacks — to lead Savouge’s four-set rebound victory, 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 25-21, on Wednesday at the Paco Arena.
“Gustong gusto ko po kasi talagang bumawi sa team. Kasi syempre ang pangit ng pagkatalo namin sa Alpha. Pero ‘yun nga, ginawa rin ng Alpha ‘yung best nila kaya natalo kami pero ito na nga, nag-recover kami ngayon kahit galing sa talo,” Betco said, his relief and joy evident after his breakout performance.
His energy was infectious. When Savouge started to waver after losing the third set, Betco stepped up, igniting a decisive 3-0 burst in the fourth that turned a narrow one-point cushion into a commanding lead. From there, the Spin Doctors never looked back — securing their first win of the tournament with the young spiker at the forefront.
For Betco, the moment was more than just redemption — it was validation.
“Hindi naman po namin ine-expect kung sinong ila-lineup ni madam for this game. Ang iniisip na lang namin is susuportahan namin kung sino ‘yung mala-lineup, ‘di ko rin in-expect na ako nga ‘yung maglalaro, so sabi ko opportunity ko ‘to kaya gagalingan ko pa,” he added.
Savouge head coach Sydney Calderon was all praises for his newest weapon, noting how Betco’s entry instantly boosted their offensive arsenal alongside veterans Mark Calado and Shawie Caritativo.
“Malaking bagay na talagang na-add sa’min si [Reymark] Betco kasi napaka-power na addition sa team namin,” Calderon shared. “Gusto niyang maglaro nung first game, kaso marami kaming games this week. Sabi ko, gagamitin kita sa FEU.”
True to his coach’s word, Betco made the most of his time on the court — unleashing his signature firepower while showing poise beyond his years. His youthful energy blended seamlessly with Savouge’s veteran core, giving the squad a much-needed boost of confidence after a rocky start.
Now in his first stint with the Spin Doctors, Betco admitted he’s still finding his rhythm within the system and building chemistry with his teammates. But with a mindset rooted in humility and hard work, the young gun is determined to keep pushing forward.
“Okay naman po, hindi naman sila mahirap pakisamahan gawa’t naging kakampi ko na sila, nakasama. Syempre ako din ‘yung naga-adjust kasi ako ‘yung pinakabata na naglaro diyan sa team namin,” he said.
