Barros became the darling of the Filipino crowd back in August 2000 when she played for the Brazilian national team in the FIVB Grand Prix that was hosted by the Philippines.

“Leila once told me that if ever it struck my mind to move elsewhere, I should be moving to the Philippines,” Souza de Brito said.

And just last Sunday, Jorge was officially penned as the new head coach of the national team on the women’s side after FIVB’s grant on the Philippines’ request.

“I’m very happy to have this chance to come to the Philippines, it’s an honor,” he shared.

“I love volleyball and I love the passion Filipinos have for volleyball. They love the sport so much—and there are a lot of fans.”

Moreover, Jorge averred that he could turn himself into a two-faced coach—fatherly type and strict coach.

“I will do my best to help Philippine volleyball and I expect to see good players getting involved in the project…We will try to get the best from what we can do and make a new page in history,” de Brito affirmed.

De Brito is someone who used to win as he won a gold medal as a player back in 1992 and as a coach in Brazilian women’s team in Beijing 2008, that’s why he likes to achieve it once again but this time on the PH side.

“I want to repeat that feeling again—in the Philippines, in the SEA Games,” he said.

“We build a new one, a new order…but I’m looking forward to make the team stronger and make the athletes understand the sport better. We all have to work altogether so we can see what kind of volleyball we can produce,” Jorge concluded.