By NIKOLE JAVIER
Though she’s the most requested player to the Alas Pilipinas squad, power-playing Tots Carlos won’t be playing in the national team for next month’s FIVB Challenger Cup.
That’s because the Brazilian mentor Jorge De Brito’s hands are tied, thus preventing him from including the three-time PVL MVP in the 18-player pool.
“(Tots Carlos) plays good. She’s always been the one who we requested for the national team. But at the moment, she’s not there. Rebisco will release something (about this development soon). What we’re expecting is to bring the guys who are really good at the same time,” said De Brito on Sunday night, June 23, during the last day of the VNL men’s tournament Manila leg.
At the moment, De Brito is pretty much working with the same rotation that saw action in the AVC Challenge Cup last month which he eventually steered to a historic bronze medal finish despite the short preparation.
This time, the 57-year-old coach will have the reinforcements of UAAP and PVL champions in National University’s Bella Belen and Carlos’ Creamline teammate Jema Galanza, respectively.
Another NU standout Alyssa Solomon has also shown up to the practice after begging off from the initial call-up right at the conclusion of the UAAP Season 86 due to an injury.
Despite the disappointing development, De Brito is glad to have a little more time with Alas for preparations and getting into their best form as a team.
“(We have) more time now that the guys are there together in practice. Since we have more time, we can now have better preparations,” said De Brito.
“The expectations are supposed to be always high so we have to work really hard and not just stand there, waiting for the guys to repeat the performance (in the AVC Challenge Cup),” he added.
