MANILA, Philippines – Philippine women’s volleyball head coach Jorge Souza de Brito is stepping down as chief shot-caller of the PVL’s Akari Chargers, the team announced on Thursday, December 14.
The resignation will take effect on Friday, December 15, ending the Brazilian mentor’s four-conference stay with the upstart franchise.
“Akari management has accepted the resignation of Coach Jorge and [we] offer our sincerest appreciation and thank him for his time and service for the four conferences he has served as head tactician of this young promising team,” the statement read.
“We wish Coach Jorge the best of luck in his future endeavors.”
As inaugural head coach of Akari, which joined the PVL in the 2022 Reinforced Conference, De Brito made middling progress with the young Chargers squad, albeit expected of a budding franchise.
In four conferences, the Chargers tallied an 11-21 record, placing no higher than seventh in each tournament.
Five of those wins, however, came in the ongoing 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference, where Akari showed promise with a 3-1 start before settling at a franchise-high seventh place and a 5-6 slate.
Moving forward, the franchise hinted at more changes or additions coming in the 2024 season, as it hinted at “more announcements” regarding its “new direction.”
De Brito leaves behind an Akari core with standout weapons to compete like Faith Nisperos, Fifi Sharma, Erika Raagas, and veteran presence Dindin Santiago-Manabat. – Rappler.com
