Alas Pilipinas head coach Jorge de Brito gave some clarity as to why Eya Laure has yet to play a match in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
Two games in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, and Eya Laure has yet to suit up for Alas Pilipinas Women.
Head coach Jorge Souza de Brito addressed questions surrounding Laure, clarifying that the star spiker is being held out purely as a precaution.
“Well, this is a case that she’s recovering from a minor injury in her abs. When she’s ready, she’ll play,” De Brito said in a Cignal interview. “Today, she did some spikes, she’s not feeling any pain.”
[ALSO READ: Eya Laure locked in as Alas Pilipinas chase long-awaited SEA Games women’s volleyball medal]
The Brazilian tactician explained that Laure felt discomfort before the team even left the Philippines, leaving little room for adjustment as the tournament approached.
“She felt something uncomfortable here in the Philippines, so not enough time to change,” he added. “She’ll be back, she’s here.”
On to the semis for Alas
Even without Laure suiting up, Alas Women delivered a convincing response to their opening loss to Thailand, dismantling Singapore, 25-13, 25-8, 25-18, on Friday at the Indoor Stadium Huamark to officially book a place in the semifinals.
For De Brito, the dominant win was less about power and more about execution, pointing to the team’s improved decision-making as a sign that they are settling into the tournament.
“Yeah, really happy because it's not about the power, it’s when you use the power,” said De Brito. “When I say better offense, it's not spiking strong, but being smarter.”
“What we did today showed me that we are back on track," he added.
[ALSO READ: Jia De Guzman keeps Alas Women locked in after tough SEA Games opening loss to Thailand]
With the semifinals secured, De Brito emphasized that player health remains a priority as the competition tightens.
Alas Women now await the top seed from Group B, either Vietnam or Indonesia, as they continue their push for a long-awaited SEA Games podium finish
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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.
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