Jorge Edson Souza De Brito–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Capital1’s return to PVL action was rough. And that’s saying it lightly.
In their two games in the first leg of the On Tour in Vigan City, Creamline and Cignal pummeled the Solar Spikers in straight sets, exposing the weaknesses of the Solar Spikers.
But for new coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito, it’s still too early to give a verdict.
“[The players are] already training hard and focusing on improvement for this season,” De Brito told the Inquirer as he returns to the pro ranks.
“[We’ll] use this competition to prepare the team, [and it’s] still too early to see the achievements,” added De Brito, at the helm of the Solar Spikers for just less than a month now.
Against the Cool Smashers, Capital1 suffered a 25-10, 25-21, 25-10 blowout to open its Pool B assignments on Sunday before a 25-21, 25-22, 25-16 beating taken at the hands of the HD Spikers the next day.
Those, even with De Brito fielding in their latest reinforcements, middle blockers KC Galdones and Rachel Austero, and outside hitter Jerrili Malabanan, as well as rookie pick Pia Abbu.
“We are talking about change in mentality, system and how to prepare to play volleyball at a high level and be very competitive,” he said. “[Does it] take time? Yes,” the Brazilian mentor said.
“We just started, [there’s still] not enough time even [if] we [are] training every day,” he added, before boldly predicting. “It’s [just been] less than a month, but the job will be delivered.”
He may have a point, since the Solar Spikers are still not at a hundred percent capacity with national team standouts Leila Cruz and Bella Belen, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s Draft, not being able to play due to the national team window.
There is still a lot of work to do for the Solar Spikers to become a legitimate threat. But if there’s a coach who can turn things around for the better, given the time, De Brito fits the description.
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The national team tactician has the experience in doing just that, like how he surprised a lot of people with how he handled Alas Pilipinas, even with a short amount of preparation last year, before bringing the program to new heights with a silver this year. INQ