The bronze finish earned by Alas Pilipinas in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women was long overdue.
This marks the Philippines’ first-ever medal at the continental level, with their prior highest achievement being fourth place, attained in the 1962 and 1966 Asian Games.
Now that history has been made, head coach Jorge Souza de Brito – whose contract is set to end by the close of June 2024 – harbors aspirations for the country he considers his own.
The Brazilian tactician envisions this milestone as the beginning of a significant journey for Philippine volleyball – one that hinges on retaining the core of this exceptional squad captained by Jia De Guzman.
“Well, yes, the FIVB Challenger Cup will be here. We have a friendly match here in Korea, and the SEA V. League is coming in July and August, so this is for the national team,” De Brito commented on the team’s upcoming battles.
“Hopefully, hopefully. We don’t know, but hopefully most of them,” he responded when queried about the team’s potential composition.
The Challenger Cup is slated to be hosted by the Philippines from July 4 to 7 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Teams already qualified include Kenya, Argentina, and Puerto Rico. The gold medalist in the AVC Challenge Cup, as well as the finalists in the 2024 Women’s European Volleyball League, and one more nation determined via world ranking, will also qualify.
De Brito, whom the PNVF wishes to retain, advocates for a continuous program for the country’s national volleyball teams to sustain this momentum.
The Brazilian coach, an Olympic gold medalist as a player, arrived in the country under FIVB’s coaching support for technical and tactical development of national teams project agreement.
“Hopefully, they don’t take too long like this one for the next medal. So if we provide a good program and keep integrating young players with the veterans we have here, I think, you know, we won’t have to wait too long,” expressed De Brito.
“The final point is, work, work, work hard, and trust.”
