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Tag: Jorge Souza de Brito

  • Jorge Souza de Brito sees valuable lessons for Capital1 despite loss to Dominican Republic in a friendly

    Jorge Souza de Brito sees valuable lessons for Capital1 despite loss to Dominican Republic in a friendly

    The Capital1 Solar Spikers continue to build chemistry and fine-tune their system ahead of the upcoming Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour conference, with the team recently testing itself against one of the world’s top national squads in a friendly match against the Dominican Republic.

     

    Although the Solar Spikers were unable to pull off an upset against the powerhouse Dominican side, the exhibition served as an important measuring stick for a Capital1 team that has undergone significant changes during the offseason. Facing a team with extensive international experience gave the Solar Spikers an opportunity to evaluate their progress while exposing areas that still need improvement before the new PVL season begins.

     

    The Dominican Republic arrived in the Philippines as part of its campaign in Week 2 of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) held in Pasig City. Ranked among the world’s strongest women’s volleyball programs, the Caribbean nation showcased its class against Capital1, highlighting the gap between an established international team and a club still working to integrate several new players into its lineup.

     

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    Despite the result, Capital1 head coach Jorge Souza de Brito viewed the match as an invaluable learning experience for his squad.

     

    “As a first friendly match, it was very good. Even without having all the key players on the court at the same time, the system proved to be viable, even against the strong Dominican team. There is no comparison between the level of the teams, but learning how to handle the fundamentals in critical situations may have been the greatest lesson from the game. We will have moments like these in the competitions ahead,” De Brito said in a media interaction.

     

    The Brazilian mentor emphasized that the match was never solely about the final score. Instead, it provided his players with a rare opportunity to compete against elite international talent while testing the team’s execution under pressure. Such experiences are expected to benefit the Solar Spikers as they prepare for the highly competitive PVL On Tour conference, where consistency and composure in crucial moments often determine the outcome of matches.

    Capital1 enters the new season carrying high expectations after assembling one of the league’s busiest and most ambitious offseason rosters. The organization made a series of headline-grabbing acquisitions aimed at surrounding rising star Bella Belen with experienced talent capable of elevating the team’s competitiveness.

     

    Among the biggest additions were former Cignal HD Spikers standouts and Most Valuable Player tandem Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos, both expected to provide scoring firepower and veteran leadership. The Solar Spikers also strengthened their playmaking department by signing veteran setter Jaja Maraguinot in free agency, adding another experienced floor general capable of orchestrating the team’s offense.

     

    The roster overhaul continued during the PVL Rookie Draft, where Capital1 selected University of Santo Tomas captain and two-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Best Libero Detdet Pepito with the second overall pick. Widely regarded as one of the country’s top defensive specialists at the collegiate level, Pepito is expected to make an immediate impact in the back row. The club also added University of the East standout Khy Cepada, further boosting the team’s youthful depth.

     

    With an impressive collection of talent now assembled, many observers believe the Solar Spikers have significantly raised their ceiling entering the new campaign. However, De Brito cautioned that talent alone does not automatically translate into victories, stressing that the team’s long-term success will ultimately depend on chemistry and cohesion.

     

    “We are on the right path, and with the support of these new players, Capital1 continues its journey of growth and development. Without a doubt, the quality of the players naturally leads people to expect exponential growth, but performance depends on the chemistry we are building, and of course, on the ups and downs that every new group experiences. Our goal is to exceed expectations through hard work and by doing things the right way for our team,” he added.

     

    As one of the most respected coaches in Philippine volleyball, De Brito understands that integrating multiple new players into a single system requires patience. Building communication, trust, and familiarity on the court often takes weeks or even months, particularly with several key newcomers expected to play major roles immediately.

     

    Fortunately for Capital1, there is still valuable preparation time before meaningful games begin. Training sessions and additional practice matches will give the coaching staff more opportunities to experiment with different combinations while allowing the team’s new acquisitions to further develop their understanding of De Brito’s system.

     

    The Solar Spikers will officially begin their PVL On Tour campaign on Saturday, July 25, when they face the Nxled Chameleons in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. By then, Capital1 hopes the lessons learned from competing against one of the world’s premier volleyball nations will translate into stronger performances as the club looks to establish itself as a legitimate contender in the upcoming conference.

     

     

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  • PNVF absent in initial NLRC talks with former Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza de Brito 

    PNVF absent in initial NLRC talks with former Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza de Brito 

    The dispute between the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and former Alas Pilipinas Women head coach Jorge Souza de Brito took an unexpected turn after the federation failed to appear at a scheduled conciliation-mediation conference on Tuesday at the National Labor Relations Commission.


    For de Brito and his camp, the morning was meant to open dialogue. Instead, it ended in silence.

     

    Arriving as early as 9:30 a.m., the Brazilian coach and his legal counsel, Atty. Rex Enrico Cruz III, waited at the NLRC’s Single Entry Approach (SeNA) office with hopes of addressing claims involving alleged unpaid salaries and bonuses tied to his tenure with the national team.

     

    But no representative from the federation showed up.

     

    “Unfortunately, the PNVF and/or representatives are absent in the Mediation Hearing before the SENA NLRC this morning,” Cruz said.

     

    “Coach Jorge is very optimistic this morning. He arrived early and hoped that PNVF or Mr. Liao will heed the recommendation of PSC chair to settle this the soonest,” he added.

     

    The absence not only delayed proceedings but also cast doubt on earlier signals of willingness to resolve the issue. 

     

    Just days prior, PNVF secretary-general Otie Camangian publicly stated that the federation intended to honor its obligations to the former coach.

     

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    “Hindi po tatalikuran ng PNVF kung anuman ‘yung obligasyon na nararapat sa ating foreign coach, precisely because ‘yun naman talaga ang dapat,” Camangian said in a radio interview.

     

    Tuesday’s development, however, told a different story—one that now threatens to push the dispute beyond mediation.

     

    The case had already drawn attention after Pato Gregorio urged both sides to settle the matter promptly. Instead, the lack of attendance has effectively reset the timeline, with a new mediation date set for May 4.

     

    “Hopefully, PNVF will be there. Otherwise, we proceed to the NLRC proper already before the Labor Arbiter,” Cruz warned.

     

    If unresolved, the case could escalate to formal litigation, moving from mediation into a full labor dispute that may eventually reach the courts.

     

    Beyond the immediate issue of unpaid wages, the conflict has also begun to widen. De Brito’s camp is now preparing an additional complaint, alleging that the federation violated terms of a contract that, according to the coach, was meant to remain confidential.

     

    He is seeking compensation for salaries and bonuses tied to his stint with the national team across multiple international tournaments. The PNVF, for its part, has maintained that de Brito himself breached provisions of that same agreement.

     

    The dispute comes months after his tenure with the Philippine women’s volleyball team ended without renewal following the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

     

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  • PSC urges swift resolution in PNVF–Jorge de Brito dispute

    PSC urges swift resolution in PNVF–Jorge de Brito dispute

    With Philippine volleyball gearing up for bigger roles on the global stage, a brewing dispute off the court is drawing concern at the highest level.

     

    Patrick Gregorio made it clear that the ongoing legal conflict between the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and former national team coach Jorge Souza de Brito cannot be allowed to linger.

     

    The Brazilian mentor has taken his complaints to the National Labor Relations Commission, citing unpaid bonuses, salary issues, and what he described as illegal deductions during his tenure with Alas Pilipinas Women. While the case now moves through formal channels, Gregorio emphasized that its impact extends far beyond paperwork.

     

    “Dapat ayusin nila ‘yan,” Gregorio said. “Kasi alam mo, ang focus natin is ‘yung 2029 World [Championship] hosting natin. Ang focus natin, ‘yung mga marami nating hosting. You cannot afford any internal conflict.”

     

    Speaking on the sidelines of the Asian Beach Games, the PSC chief framed the issue as one that could affect the country’s broader sporting ambitions—particularly as the Philippines positions itself as a host for major international events.

     

    While de Brito was originally brought in during the leadership of former federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, Gregorio stressed that the responsibility now lies with the current administration under Tony Boy Liao.

     

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    “I encourage President Tony Boy [Liao], he’s the head of the federation, to really just fix this kasi mahirap ‘yung ma-negative publicity pa tayo sa ibang bayan,” he said.

     

    Beyond the immediate dispute, Gregorio pointed to a deeper concern: credibility.

     

    As Philippine sports increasingly taps foreign expertise, unresolved issues like this could cast doubt on the country’s ability to uphold agreements and protect professionals working within its programs.

     

    “Otherwise, how can we welcome foreign coaches in the future? Naniniwala ako, maaayos ni President Tony Boy, at sana sa lalong madaling [panahon] pa rin,” he said. “Ang dami nating foreign coaches na magagaling ngayon. Kung ano ‘yung pinagkasunduan, dapat lang masunod, and I will make sure na matulungan rin natin ‘yung PNVF in solving this.”

     

    For Gregorio, the message is simple but urgent: settle the issue, protect the program, and keep the focus where it belongs—on growth, not conflict.

     

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  • Former Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge de Brito takes legal action against PNVF

    Former Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge de Brito takes legal action against PNVF

    Former Alas Pilipinas head coach Jorge Souza de Brito has escalated his dispute with the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), formally filing a labor complaint over alleged unpaid salaries and bonuses—marking a dramatic turn in what had been a quietly brewing conflict.

     

    De Brito confirmed on Monday, April 20, that he has initiated legal proceedings before the National Labor Relations Commission, citing what he described as repeated delays and a lack of resolution from the federation. The Brazilian tactician, who spent more than four years at the helm of the national program, expressed both disappointment and frustration over how the situation unfolded.

     

    “It is with profound sorrow, accompanied by a blend of confusion and outrage, that I must inform you of my decision to commence legal action against PNVF today,” De Brito said in a statement.

     

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    According to De Brito, a key meeting with PNVF officials on March 24 failed to produce a mutually acceptable settlement. While the federation initially sent a proposal via email after the discussions, he claimed that the offer was later withdrawn through a text message—an act he interpreted as a sign of unwillingness to resolve the issue in good faith.

     

    “Following our meeting, PNVF sent a proposal via email, which was subsequently withdrawn through a text message last week, clearly indicating an intention to delay any resolution. This marks a disappointing conclusion after four and a half years of dedicated effort and notable accomplishments for the volleyball community in the Philippines,” he added.

     

    The dispute, however, is far from one-sided.

    PNVF president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara—often associated with federation leadership—has not been the primary voice on this issue. Instead, it was federation figure Tonyboy Liao who earlier pushed back against De Brito’s claims, asserting that the coach had violated specific provisions in his contract. Among the alleged breaches was a restriction prohibiting him from handling a private club team while serving as head coach of the national squad.

     

    During his tenure with Alas Pilipinas, De Brito simultaneously coached the Akari Chargers in the Premier Volleyball League and has since taken on a role with the Capital1 Solar Spikers—a point the federation claims complicates his contractual standing.

     

    “If only he did not have contract violations, we would have been easy to deal with. ‘Here is everything you are claiming.’ But he had contract violations,” Liao said at the time.

     

    Despite the off-court controversy, De Brito’s impact on Philippine volleyball is difficult to dispute. Under his leadership, Alas Pilipinas experienced a period of steady growth and increased competitiveness on the international stage. The program enjoyed a breakthrough in 2024, securing three bronze medals across the Asian Volleyball Confederation Nations Cup and the Southeast Asian Volleyball League legs in Vinh Phuc and Nakhon Ratchasima.

     

    The upward trajectory continued into 2025, when the national team captured a silver medal in the Nations Cup and added two more bronze finishes in the V.League—results that underscored the program’s growing stature in the region.

     

    Now, what began as a contractual disagreement threatens to cast a shadow over those achievements. As the case heads to the National Labor Relations Commission, both parties appear set for a prolonged legal battle—one that could have broader implications for governance, contractual enforcement, and professional standards within Philippine volleyball.

     

    For De Brito, the move signals a firm stand after months of impasse. For the PNVF, it presents a challenge that extends beyond the court—into the realm of accountability and organizational credibility.

     

     

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  • PNVF, Jorge de Brito begin talks in bid to resolve ongoing dispute

    PNVF, Jorge de Brito begin talks in bid to resolve ongoing dispute

    After months of silence, stalled communication, and growing uncertainty, the first real movement has finally come in the standoff between the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and former Alas Pilipinas Women head coach Jorge Souza de Brito.

     

    What happened on Tuesday may not have settled the dispute, but it did something just as important — it got both sides back to the same table.

     

    In a development that could shape how the situation unfolds moving forward, PNVF officials and de Brito formally opened discussions, signaling what appears to be the federation’s first meaningful step toward addressing the issues that have lingered since his departure from the national team setup.

     

    The timing was notable.

     

    The meeting took place just hours before de Brito was set to coach Capital1 in its play-in clash against Galeries Tower, underscoring how even amid club duties, the unresolved matters tied to his national team stint continue to follow him.

     

    At the center of the initial talks were de Brito’s longstanding concerns over unpaid bonuses, which reportedly cover five separate tournaments. Those concerns, according to those involved in the discussions, were formally raised and acknowledged during the meeting.

     

    That alone represented a shift. For months, the issue had largely remained in the background — discussed publicly at times, but without visible signs of progress. Tuesday’s dialogue, at the very least, moved the matter from public frustration into an actual negotiation setting.

     

    The federation is now expected to further review the financial concerns raised by de Brito and his camp, a step that could determine whether the dispute begins moving toward a settlement or stretches into a longer process.

     

    Notably, however, both camps appeared to take a measured approach in how they handled the meeting.

     

    Rather than immediately diving into the most contentious parts of the dispute, the discussion reportedly steered clear of the more legally sensitive issues surrounding de Brito’s contract and working visa. That decision may have been less about avoidance and more about strategy.

     

    At this stage, the apparent priority is progress over confrontation.

     

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    By focusing first on the less explosive but still significant concerns, both sides seem to be testing whether common ground can still be found before the conversation shifts into more complicated legal territory.

     

    That reading was echoed by Atty. Rex Cruz, de Brito’s legal counsel, who was present during the talks and indicated that the process is only beginning.

     

    According to Cruz, Tuesday’s meeting should be viewed not as a final resolution, but as the first of what is expected to be a series of discussions aimed at sorting through all unresolved matters between the coach and the federation.

     

    That means the real test may still lie ahead.

     

    Still, for de Brito, even this initial dialogue appears to have carried significance. After months of uncertainty and what had been a frustrating lack of direct engagement, the former national team coach welcomed the opening of communication and viewed the development as a step in the right direction.

     

    He described the meeting as a “positive thing,” seeing it as the first tangible movement toward obtaining the compensation he has long maintained is owed to him.

     

    Whether that optimism leads to an actual settlement remains to be seen.

     

    But in disputes like this, where tension can easily harden into legal deadlock, the willingness to begin talking again often matters more than any single statement issued in public.

     

    For now, the dispute between PNVF and Jorge Souza de Brito is far from over. But after months of distance, the conversation has finally started — and that alone may have changed the tone of what comes next.

     

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  • Jorge Souza de Brito seeks legal recourse against PNVF over disputed unpaid bonuses

    Jorge Souza de Brito seeks legal recourse against PNVF over disputed unpaid bonuses

    What was meant to be a quiet transition has instead turned into a growing standoff. For Jorge Souza De Brito, the closing chapter of his time with Alas Pilipinas has shifted from a story of program-building to one centered on accountability.


    After years of shaping the direction of Philippine women’s volleyball, the Brazilian coach now finds himself locked in a dispute with the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), one that he insists could have been resolved with a simple conversation.

     

    “I really don’t like to go this way but I don’t know how [else to proceed]. I’m just trying to sit on the same table with them because I think that’s the right thing to do,” De Brito said.

     

    The main issues are unpaid salaries and bonuses tied to his tenure, including incentives from multiple SEA V.League tournaments and an AVC Nations Cup campaign. Despite his contract running through June, De Brito says clarity on these commitments has never come.

     

    His frustration goes beyond finances. For months, he claims, attempts to initiate dialogue have been met with silence.

     

    “Instead of sitting and talking with me, they keep on attacking me. They never talked straight to me. I’m here since December, trying to meet them. How many times have I met with them? Zero. Why? Why are they so afraid to talk? I don’t know,” the veteran coach said.

     

    The breakdown comes after a complicated exit. De Brito was relieved of his post in October, just weeks before the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. Yet rather than walk away, he stayed on to guide the team through the biennial meet closing his tenure on professional terms even as uncertainty loomed.

     

    Since then, he has returned to the club scene, taking the reins of the Capital1 Solar Spikers in the Premier Volleyball League. Still, the unresolved dispute with the federation continues to cast a shadow over his present role.

     

    The situation is further entangled by a leadership shift within the PNVF, with Tony Boy Liao taking over from Tats Suzara. But for De Brito, accountability should not depend on who is in charge.

    “I’ve been working with [the federation] for five years. It’s sad that we have to go through this,” the former Alas Pilipinas coach said.

     

    Liao, however, has distanced the current leadership from the issue.

     

    “Hindi namin problema ‘yun. Kay Tats [Suzara] na ‘yun,” Liao said.

     

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    The PNVF president also raised concerns over alleged contract violations, claiming De Brito should not have coached a club team while handling the national squad. The Brazilian mentor firmly denied this, stating that no such restriction existed in his agreement.

     

    As tensions rise, the dispute has extended beyond financial claims. De Brito’s camp alleges that his working status in the country is now being used as leverage.

     

    “The PNVF is trying to force him to give up his claim by threatening to cancel his visa or make it complicated for him to get a working visa,” his legal representation said.

     

    Liao confirmed that arrangements were made with Capital1 to allow De Brito to finish his current stint in the Premier Volleyball League, but issued a warning tied to the ongoing situation.

     

    “Naniningil [si de Brito] kaya sinabi namin sa Capital1 na kapag inulit niya pa, ica-cancel namin visa niya. We can always write to the PSC. We agreed [with Capital1] na tapusin muna natin ‘yung tournament basta ‘wag mangugulo coach niyo,” Liao said.

     

    Despite the escalating rhetoric, De Brito maintains that his position is rooted in principle rather than conflict. He says he honored his commitment to the national team, turning down other opportunities in the process and is now simply asking for the same in return.

     

    After sending formal communication to the federation as early as December, with no response, he is now preparing to elevate the matter. 

     

    His camp has reached out to the Brazilian embassy and the Department of Labor and Employment, and is exploring further action through international and government channels, including the FIVB and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

     

    “I think it’s time to go to the right venue to put these demands on the table,” he added.


    Even as Alas Pilipinas moves forward under new head coach Tai Bundit, De Brito’s case underscores a deeper issue—one that goes beyond contracts and into the broader responsibility of managing a national program.

     

    “The national team deserves much more, The fans deserve much more. The country deserves much more. Hopefully in the future, these guys will know what the national team really means for the country,” de Brito said.

     

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