Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza De Brito during the AVC Challenge Cup 2024. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Jorge Edson Souza de Brito is staying on as Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball team head coach, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation announced Friday.
The Brazilian mentor will be in charge of Alas Pilipinas until December 2025, according to PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.
“After careful thoughts, consideration and consultation with the PNVF board, I would like to officially announce that we would like to retain Coach Jorge until the SEA Games 2025,” said Suzara after Alas Pilipinas played Powerful Daegu of South Korea in the “Serve, Spike Unite” friendly match in South Korea.
READ: De Brito happy to help deliver Alas Pilipinas medal at home
“There are so many events up ahead for Alas Pilipinas so let’s continue supporting the team and the program.”
De Brito was supposed to step down from his coaching post at the expiration of his contract at the end of this month, but Alas Pilipinas’ historic showing in the AVC Challenge Cup prompted PNVF to appeal for him to stay.
IT’S OFFICIAL! The Philippine National Volleyball Federation extends Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza de Brito until the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in December next year.@INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/9WPXh6ZPZd
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) June 7, 2024
He will help guide the Filipino spikers to various key tournaments en route to the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand next year where the country hopes to end its 20-year medal drought.
READ: Next schedule for Alas Pilipinas after AVC Challenge Cup campaign
Before the official contract extension, De Brito had said that he wanted to stay and continue coaching the Philippines, especially with the potential shown by the hastily-assembled Alas Pilipinas roster last month.
“Of course, my desire, my wish is to stay with these guys. All the players in the Philippines, there’s a lot of potential,” de Brito said in an earlier interview.
De Brito will have an intact core with the addition of UAAP stars at his disposal after the PNVF vowed to keep the roster–which won the bronze medal, the country’s first in an AVC tournament–intact.
Alas is in South Korea as part of its build-up for the FIVB Challenger Cup next month at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Filipino spikers lost to Powerful Daegu, 26-24, 23-25, 23-25, 25-16, 8-15, in an exhibition game on Friday in Daegu City.