Jorge Souza de Brito ends Alas Pilipinas tenure with “no hard feelings”

For Alas Pilipinas, heartbreak struck once more on Southeast Asia’s biggest stage. In a tense and emotionally charged bronze medal match at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine men’s volleyball team came up just short against Indonesia, losing a narrow 26–28, 25–13, 28–30, 24–26 contest at Bangkok’s Hua Mark Indoor Stadium.

The defeat marked the fourth consecutive SEA Games in which Alas Pilipinas fell to the same rival in a bronze medal clash, extending the country’s volleyball medal drought to 20 years.

The SEA Games also marked the conclusion of head coach Jorge Souza de Brito’s tenure with the national team. While the ending was not ideal, the Brazilian coach expressed pride in the team he is leaving behind.

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“We have to be really proud of the results we got – no excuses. I’m the last person to give excuses because we gave everything. All the players were committed. Not only those who played in Thailand but also those in the pool, and even players helping us train. Those guys helped us, and we cannot forget that. They love volleyball and supported us,” De Brito said in a media interaction.

Newly-elected Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Tonyboy Liao confirmed that he is already eyeing decorated Thai tactician Tai Bundit to succeed De Brito.

#WATCH: Alas Women head coach Jorge De Brito reflects on their #SEAGames2025 campaign 🏐🇵🇭#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/FhJzCXx3ba

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— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) December 15, 2025

While some attributed the coaching change to the SEA Games disappointment, De Brito clarified that the decision had been made months earlier. He received a letter from the PNVF on October 15 informing him that his contract would end after the SEA Games, instead of the previously planned July 2026.

“I have always been under the federation, working for a program. So for me, it’s quite easy to understand the decision, even if it’s hard because it’s in the middle of everything. The results are there, and these are the kind of decisions that have to be made by the people who decide. But about the national team – the structure has to be done and get better for the results to come. Quite easy to understand because I had a plan to follow. All my coaches had the same. I needed to keep going because the players and the country deserve it. It was just a technical decision. But regardless, we fought until the last minute to do what’s best for the country. No hard feelings,” he explained.

De Brito also revealed that he informed his players about his contract situation immediately after receiving the PNVF letter.

“They already knew. We were in the same boat with the same feelings since October 16 when I told them. But after that, we were all there and we gave our best. It was super hard. Even when we tried to bring home the bronze medal or any medal for the country, it was very difficult. We were there together. We talked. We cried. We hugged each other. But we did our best at the moment,” he added.

Under De Brito’s guidance, Alas Pilipinas experienced significant growth. The team had a breakout year in 2024, winning three bronze medals across the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Nations Cup and Southeast Asian Volleyball League legs in Vinh Phuc and Nakhon Ratchasima. In 2025, the squad captured a Nations Cup silver medal and two more bronze medals in the V.League.

With his national team stint over, De Brito will now focus entirely on the Capital1 Solar Spikers in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) following a breakthrough season.

“I’m full of energy to start the program again with our players. We are committed to extracting the best from them and making Capital1 shine again, putting them in the high place they deserve. I’m really happy and focused on making my best again with them. I’m super happy and excited to start,” he concluded.

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