A photo posted by @candiesbelabb on Sep 10, 2016 at 9:49pm PDT

MANILA – For the first time, Jerome Ponce admitted that he is in a relationship with Mika Reyes.

In an interview with entertainment site Push, Ponce admitted that the volleyball star is already his girlfriend.

“Well, proud ako na maging boyfriend niya,” he said at the celebrity premiere of “Kung Fu Yoga” on Tuesday.

Early into their relationship, Ponce admitted he and Reyes have already been through a lot.

"Malaki ang in-adjust niya at sabi ko rin malaki-laki rin ang in-adjust ko sa pagkatao. So 'yun 'yung pinakagusto ko at pati 'yung mga pinagdaanan namin sa buhay. Away bati, sa families may mga kumokontra. So 'yun 'yung masasabi kong pinaka (napagdaanan) namin,” he said.

Asked what makes Reyes special, Ponce said: "Hindi ko na in-expect na may taong kayang maging ganun para sa akin. Kumbaga kaya niya mag-stay despite of all the wrong sa akin.”

In a previous interview, Ponce said he met the former De La Salle University athlete through common friends when she appeared on "ASAP."

Rumors about a blossoming relationship between the two started late last year after Ponce and Reyes were spotted together on various occasions and in different places.