Alas Pilipinas head coach Jorge de Brito believes the nation’s strongest lineup in decades has a real chance to end the Philippines’ long SEA Games medal drought — and potentially contend for gold.
Alas Pilipinas head coach Jorge Souza de Brito is embracing the weight of expectation as the country heads into the 33rd Southeast Asian Games armed with what he believes is the strongest women’s volleyball lineup the Philippines has fielded in decades.
Fresh from a historic silver medal in the AVC Nations Cup and back-to-back bronze finishes in the SEA V.League, De Brito sees a program that has grown into a legitimate shot at ending its 20-year SEA Games podium drought — and potentially its 33-year gold-medal wait.
“Nothing less than a gold is every time our thinking when you do the first movement of training,” De Brito told One Sports.
Is a SEA Games gold medal possible?
The Brazilian tactician noted that the quality of the current pool, combined with the culture built over the past year, gives the program a genuine chance to deliver the Philippines’ first SEA Games medal in two decades and its first title since 1993.
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While he acknowledged that regional powerhouse Thailand remains the perennial favorite, he stressed that the team cannot be anchored to history.
For him, the focus must remain on the present — on the level the national team has shown and the commitment its players have consistently brought to training.
“You have to think about the present, not the past,” he said. “It’s a good lineup, good players, and the commitment in the past few weeks has really given us strength. The chance is there to grab.”
Momentum on Alas Women’s side
De Brito also believes that the team’s recent international results have fundamentally changed the players' mindset.
The AVC Nations Cup silver proved that the Philippines could go toe-to-toe with some of Asia’s toughest opponents, while the SEA V.League bronzes showed that the group can sustain success over multiple legs and adapt quickly to different matchups.
[ALSO READ: Jorge De Brito acknowledges ‘higher expectations’ for Alas Pilipinas in SEA V.League]
He sees no reason to temper expectations, noting that the group’s confidence is backed by preparation and continuity — two things the national program had long lacked.
“I know Thailand is always the favorite. We’re not looking against history,” De Brito explained. “You also have to think about the present, not the past.”
“It’s a good lineup, good players, commitment in the past weeks. Last year gave us a lot of strength in the heart. The chance is there to grab,” he added.
[ALSO READ: Alas Pilipinas becoming ‘stronger and stronger’ after AVC silver, says coach De Brito]
As the Philippines enters the final stretch of preparation for the SEA Games, De Brito remains firm that the goal is ambitious but achievable.
He knows that the margin for error will be slim and that the competition will be fierce, yet he believes that their unity, experience, and belief in each other have placed them in their best position in years.
“We’re strong, we’re confident, but the opponents are there,” he said. “We will work, we will prepare, and we will give everything for the Philippines.”
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.