With an assist from the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), Alas head coach Jorge Souza de Brito was able to pull some strings to give the nationals a taste of top-tier international volleyball through world No. 11 Dominican Republic.
The Dominicans, also ranked second in the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) behind the United States, are among Latin America’s powerhouse sporting nations.
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They are the reigning four-time NORCECA Champions and have won the last three bi-annual continental championships led by veteran star trio Brayelin Martínez, Brenda Castillo and Bethania de la Cruz, also known as ‘Las Reinas del Caribe’ (Queens of the Carribean).
For his end, de Brito’s Latin American connections came into play in setting up a learning experience like no other for Alas Pilipinas.
But how did he make it happen?
It’s because of his existing ties with Dominican Republic head coach Marcos Kwiek and deputy coach Wagner Pacheco, who both happen to be his Brazilian compatriots.
Kwiek, in particular, was once the coach of world No. 2 Brazil’s women’s volleyball national team from 2003 to 2007 before taking over for the Dominicans.
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“We sent an official letter to the [Dominican Republic] national volleyball federation. My contacts or people I know there are president Cristobal Marte, head coach Marcos Kwiek and assistant coach Wagner Pacheco,” de Brito shared with SPIN.Ph.
Dominican Republic is also a fixture in the prestigious Volleyball Nations League (VNL) and has never been relegated since the competition’s inception in 2018.
The Dominicans will both teach, play and train with Alas Pilipinas here in Manila starting Aug. 12 as part of their preparations for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship later this month in Thailand.