THERE seems to be more to the story on how Alas Pilipinas’ 20-woman pool came about.
And even head coach Jorge Souza de Brito, who chose to stay mum on the brewing turmoil between the PVL and PNVF on the pool’s formation, was taken aback by the how the list surfaced.
“No, no, I don't want this. I only work on the technical part. I don't work on the political ones,” de Brito told SPIN.ph.
“It’s not my part, really. But I'm happy that you're asking me, but I'm not the right one to answer for you.”
While the 59-year-old Brazilian mentor is pleased with the talent in the national federation’s pool for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, he made it clear that he personally won’t close the door on welcoming more players — even those the PNVF didn’t consider in the first place.
“President Ramon ['Tats' Suzara] just put the lineup out there and I also agree that there are good guys there […] but as I told you before, I told everyone, the national team is the place for all the best players,” de Brito explained.
“If you're playing good, anyone, even from these [PVL] matches now, they have to be happy that they're going to be considered to join the national team.
“Our pool is not only 20 or 25. You see, every team will have 20 players. Those 20 guys are our pool, but sorry to say, but everyone is available to play in the national team, especially the good ones.”
SPIN.ph previously caught wind of a supposed training camp from Nov. 15 to 30 where Alas is expected to be at least near-complete before the biennial meet begins on Dec. 9.
“I don't know. I never talk about training camp,” he said. “You're telling me now, but I'm not talking about something that I don't know.”
Alas plans not yet set in stone
Although open to including more names in the pool, de Brito understands how he needs to make the most of the cards he’s dealt amid time constraints and the uncertainty of the player-lending scheme involving the national federation and the league.
“For now, we have a plan. We'll try to keep this one. I have them Monday and Tuesday. Sir Ricky [Palou] knows, the management knows, the PNVF knows,” de Brito said.
“We're trying to follow this, adjusting with the players, adjusting with the clubs. We trust the players, trust the clubs, and I think everyone will do the best they can to support the national team so I'm okay with that.”
So, when will the SEA Games-bound national team finally be complete?
Amid the uncertainty of it all, de Brito only had this to say in jest: “First match. First match in Thailand.”
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