“I started with this team since July and I expect them to enjoy their plays here after a long time without playing. They are the young players of the national team of Philippines,” Souza de Brito told the Asian Volleyball Confederation.

The Choco Mucho team consisting of Kalei Mau, MJ Phillips, Tin Tiamzon, Mylene Paat, Kianna Dy, Ria Meneses, Majoy Baron, Dell Palomata, Deanna Wong, Gel Cayuna, Dawn Macandili, and captain Iris Tolenada will face Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima QminC VC at 1:30 p.m. (Philippine time) in pool B.

While Rebisco team is completed by Eya Laure, Jema Galanza, Faith Nisperos, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Mhicaela Belen, Imee Hernandez, Ivy Lacsina, Rhea Dimaculangan, Kamille Cal, Jennifer Nierva, Bernadette Pepito, and captain Aby Maraño, set to see in action in pool A at 7 pm facing Kazakhstan’s Zhetyssu.

“There are a lot of good players. The experienced ones are like the mentor to my younger players and I like this balance in my team,” de Brito explained.

Nevertheless, with short preparations, coach Odjie Mamon affirmed that they are “stronger individually but as a team we had less time to prepare.”

“It has been a long layoff as we finished the professional league last August and we had no chance to play,” he added.