Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza de Brito during the AVC Challenge Cup in Manila.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Inspired by his contract extension as the Alas Pilipinas women’s coach, Jorge Souza De Brito kicks off the team’s preparation for the FIVB Challenger Cup from July 4 to 7 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Brazilian coach, whose contract will expire at the end of the month, got his wish to continue serving the Philippine women’s volleyball team after the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), led by Tats Suzara, asked the FIVB to extend his stay for the program’s continuity until next year’s Southeast Asian Games following a historic bronze medal finish in the AVC Challenge Cup.
“I am very, very happy because I worked for three years here and our goal is always to win. But that’s a process that you have to go through and when you get these goals,” De Brito told reporters during an intimate lunch on Tuesday.
READ: Jorge Souza de Brito stays on as Alas Pilipinas coach
“I’m very proud of the players who did that and helped us coaching staff to achieve this. Also, I’m really because I will be handling them again for the next (tournaments). I’m sure, we are really, really close to getting better. I’m very happy,” he added.
After winning bronze in the Challenge Cup and a friendly in South Korea, De Brito knows that expectations are higher this time as they play a do-or-die game against Challenge Cup champion Vietnam in the Challenger Cup — a qualifier for the Volleyball Nations League.
But the third-year national team coach said his current players remain hungry for more and committed to playing for the Philippines.
“The expectations right now are getting higher, but also you have to remain grounded and understand that there’s still a lot of things to do. But you see, we have some vitamins already for winning. Also, with all the support from the fans, they are really excited to join. The guys can’t even wait for the time to start training again, De Brito said. “Imagine, with little training [for the Challenge Cup] we already did what we did. So what if we had more time to train, imagine what we can get. So the players are really, really excited to join the training starting next week and our tuneup tomorrow. It’s really amazing what a win can do.”
READ: Jorge de Brito happy to help deliver Alas Pilipinas medal at home
De Brito will keep the same core of the Challenge Cup, led by Jia De Guzman and Angel Canino, including additions Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon and Creamline’s Jema Galanza and Tots Carlos.
De Brito thanked Suzara and the PNVF and all the stakeholders, who have been supportive of the national program, including the PVL, UAAP, and NCAA, and coach Ramil De Jesus of La Salle and National University team manager Bing See Diet.
He is seeking to add more players to the pool for future tournaments, which he believes will continue to help Philippine volleyball reach greater heights.
“We’re also working with the PVL teams, UAAP and NCAA teams, because we have to balance this. We’re trying to keep the same (core) because I think it’s important. We also need to add more players. Philippine volleyball is much more than these players. I have to congrats them because we got the goals, but also I told them already that we’re gonna add some good players also because you know, every time you get more talented players, it’s better for us,” De Brito said. “International competitions are always good so we’ll try to bring other guys, but we’re gonna try to keep the same core because the competition is too close.”