The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) announced a major shakeup today, opting to retain the services of Brazilian coach Jorge Souza de Brito for an extended period. De Brito, who initially faced an expiring contract at the end of June 2024, will now lead the Filipina volleyball team, nicknamed Alas Pilipinas, until the 2025 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) slated for December next year.
This decision comes after a remarkable turnaround under De Brito's leadership. The 1992 Olympic gold medalist for Brazil arrived in the Philippines in July 2021. While the initial results were mixed, including a disappointing finish at the 31st and 32nd SEA Games, De Brito's impact became undeniable in the recently concluded 2024 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup.
There, Alas Pilipinas achieved a historic feat, becoming the first Philippine women's volleyball team to reach the semifinals of an AVC tournament. Their dominant run saw them defeat higher-ranked teams from Australia, India, Iran, and Chinese Taipei. This success, coupled with the Philippines' highest FIVB world ranking in 18 years (reaching number 55) and a top-10 Asian ranking (number 8), convinced the PNVF to secure De Brito's long-term commitment.
"Coach Jorge coached the country to a first-ever semifinals stint in any AVC or Asian-level competition. That's historic for Philippine volleyball," declared PNVF president Ramon "Tats" Suzara. "And because of that, there's no reason that we'll let him go".
De Brito himself has expressed his desire to stay, citing the team's potential and his enjoyment of living in the Philippines with his family. This extension provides much-needed stability for the national team as they set their sights on a strong showing at the upcoming SEA Games and beyond. The hope is that De Brito's continued leadership can propel Philippine women's volleyball to even greater heights on the international stage.