Even after being the most requested player to be part of Alas Pilipinas, Tots Carlos is still not part of the national pool according to head coach Jorge De Brito.

The Brazilian mentor is looking at an 18-pool player, with the three-time PVL MVP not likely to see action for the recently-formed Nationals in the FIVB Challenger Cup slated next month.

“(Tots Carlos) plays good. She’s always been the one who we requested for the national team. But at the moment, she’s not there. Rebisco will release something (about this development soon). What we’re expecting is to bring the guys who are really good at the same time,” said De Brito on Sunday night, June 23, during the last day of the VNL men’s tournament Manila leg.

At the moment, De Brito is pretty much working with the same rotation he was assigned with for the AVC Challenge Cup from last month which he eventually steered to a historic bronze medal finish despite the short turnaround.

This time, the 57-year-old coach will have the reinforcements of UAAP and PVL champions in National University’s Bella Belen and Carlos’ Creamline teammate Jema Galanza, respectively.

Another NU standout Alyssa Solomon has also shown up to the practice after begging off from the initial call-up right at the conclusion of the UAAP Season 86 due to an injury.

Despite the disappointing development, De Brito is glad to have a little more time with Alas for preparations and getting into their best form as a team.

“(We have) more time now that the guys are there together in practice. Since we have more time, we can now have better preparations,” said De Brito.

“The expectations are supposed to be always high so we have to work really hard and not just stand there, waiting for the guys to repeat the performance (in the AVC Challenge Cup),” he added.

“What I can say is they are much better now. It wasn’t lucky at that moment (in the AVC Challenge Cup) but it’s a short time for preparation. I’ll have more (preparation time with the team) so we can offer much more for each other and for themselves. I think that’s the way we have to do and expect for this team.”