By NIKOLE JAVIER
Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) President Tats Suzara is set to appeal for Jorge de Brito’s extension as Alas Pilipinas head coach.
The federation has expressed its desire to keep de Brito in the team longer than his initial contract which expires at the conclusion of the ongoing AVC Challenge Cup in June.
“We’ll be appealing that he remains head coach of our women’s national team program,” said Suzara on Monday, a day after the Alas Pilipinas defeated Chinese-Taipei, 25-13, 25-21, 25-18, to advance to the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup for Women semifinal after dominating its preliminary campaign in Pool A in sweeping style.
“Coach Jorge coached the country to a first-ever semifinals stint in any AVC or Asian level competition, that’s historic for Philippine volleyball,” Suzara said. “And because of that, there’s no reason that we’ll let him go.”
De Brito led the mix of young and pro players to its historic run in an AVC-sanctioned tournament which saw the Philippines rise to the FIVB world rankings to No. 55, also its best in 18 years.
The veteran mentor, who helped Brazil to the men’s gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, is bound to be replaced by another FIVB-appointed coach from Italy.
The 57-year-old Brazilian has previously revealed that he’d love nothing more than to stay where he is today, continuing his good work in Philippine volleyball amid its growing local popularity.
The Jia Morado-captained Alas Pilipinas will face Pool B’s second seed Kazakhstan in the semifinal on Tuesday, May 28.
With the rise to the world rankings, the Philippines also became the eighth best side in Asia, making it all the more hard for Suzara and the federation to just let de Brito go.
Not when he has breathed life into the country’s volleyball program for the women’s side.
