Philippine women’s national volleyball team head coach Jorge Souza De Brito assured the door remains open for Creamline standouts to join the Alas Pilipinas in the future.
Greatness finds its home in the ever-welcoming Alas Pilipinas.
The Philippine women’s national volleyball team has upheld its principle of welcoming players who have the talent and the dedication to carry the flag and represent the country.
Alas Pilipinas head coach Jorge Souza De Brito reiterated this philosophy, emphasizing that talented athletes will always be given a chance to don the national colors.
This reassurance comes in the wake of social media uproar over the lack of representation from the Creamline Cool Smashers, the winningest team in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), in the 14-woman tricolor squad set to compete in the upcoming AVC Challenge Cup.
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“The national team will always be open for the good players. No one closes the door for [great players]. When you play good, you got to be in the national team,” De Brito told One Sports.
De Brito clarified that invitations had been extended to Creamline stars Jema Galanza and Tots Carlos, but both players declined due to prior commitments. Despite their decisions, the door remains open for Creamline standouts to join the national team in the future.
“I would like to bring Jema and Tots. And also that’s the two names that Creamline put on the lineup to lend for the national team,” De Brito shared.
“They have been invited to join. So since they are invited, [they] can say yes or no. This time, they said no. But this is not the reason they will never be back. Maybe for the next leg.”
De Brito mentioned that Creamline has a “trip they scheduled before” that will coincide with the AVC Challenge Cup, slated from May 22 to 29 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
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“They cannot [join] now but maybe in the future,” he said.
For now, Alas Pilipinas will rely on Jia De Guzman, the lone Cool Smasher in the team, along with the rest of the 14-woman squad as they compete for national glory in the fast-approaching tournament.
The winner of the AVC Challenge Cup will earn a berth in the FIVB Challenge Cup.