Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza De Brito at the AVC Challenge Cup.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza De Brito saw a fan asking Angel Canino and Eya Laure to sign her volleyball in the stands above the mixed zone while the press was interviewing the hard-hitting pair after their second win in the AVC Challenge Cup on Friday evening at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Brazilian coach, who just finished speaking with the press after their 22-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-18 victory over India, approached the avid Alas supporter and took the ball himself to ask his players to sign it.
When De Brito returned the ball signed by Canino and Laure, the fan couldn’t help but turn emotional after the heartwarming assist by the national team coach.
SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas at the AVC Challenge Cup 2024
“I am the lucky fan! Thankful that I have the signature of my 2 idols -Ate Eya and Ate Angel. Thank you coach De Brito for the help,” wrote Aurora Nuestro on the Facebook page’s comments section of One Sports — the Challenge Cup’s official broadcaster.
She added a hashtag of “I love you na coach De Brito” as it seemed that she’s one of the many Filipino fans, who are starting to love the Brazilian tactician after steering Alas to the top of Pool A with a 2-0 record.
READ: AVC Cup: Alas Pilipinas stops India to stay unbeaten at 2-0
A heartwarming assist by coach Jorge De Brito to a Filipino fan. #AVCChallengeCup @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/3TxGNSE9tn
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 24, 2024
De Brito, who accepted FIVB’s development project platform to take the national team coaching job in July 2021, has received criticisms on social media in the past three years, just like the previous coaches.
Despite drawing criticisms, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist feels Manila has a special place in his heart out of all the countries he has served.
READ: De Brito relishes PH coaching stint despite ‘a lot of challenges’
In fact, he wants to stay because of his family, who are starting to love their life in Manila.
“It would be an immense pleasure to continue serving the Philippine volleyball community. And one of the big reasons would also be because I convinced my family to come and they adapted very well. I can confess that they wouldn’t want to leave even with the options that always present themselves in life,” De Brito told Inquirer in an exclusive interview last April.
The AVC Challenge Cup will be De Brito’s last major tournament as a national team coach as he revealed that the Philippine National Volleyball Federation has found his replacement when his contract expires on June 30.