BARUERI, BRAZIL—Jose Inacio Salles Neto, a renowned strength and conditioning coach from the technical and development department of the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), will join the national team program of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.

Neto visited the ongoing training camp of the national women’s team here at Sportville and will help the PH spikers optimize their strength and prevent injuries during intense workouts in preparation for the coming 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

“I’m greatly honored to be a part of the team. I’m here for the continuous technical support from the FIVB and I have the opportunity to stay with the group,’” said Neto.

The Brazilian national team trainer stayed for three days and made an initial individual evaluation of the team in coordination with PH squad headcoach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito and physical therapist Grace Gomez.

Neto, who helped develop an advanced technology test called “joint position sense” for the preparation of Brazilian athletes, left for England and will join the national squad in Manila on May 2 a week before the men’s and women’s team fly to Hanoi.

“He (Neto) is part of the support for the national team program of FIVB to PNVF. With his expertise, there will be a transfer of knowledge to our local strength and conditioning coach and at the same time educate our players on the latest trends on S&C,” said PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

Team Philippines will be aiming for the ultimate prize in men’s and women’s volleyball in the SEA Games.

The men’s indoor team got a silver in the 2019 SEAG in Manila while the women’s side is still looking for its first medal since Philippine volleyball was reinstated in the Games in 2015 Singapore.

“He focuses more on basic and proper movements. He doesn’t allow athletes to work out if their bodies are not prepared for intense activities. The treatment of injuries are likewise addressed and how to heal them during workouts,” said Gomez.

Neto applied the joint position sense on elite Brazilian athletes, a test which aims to evaluate the muscle movements’ perception of each athlete.

“We try to make this kind of exam once a year to direct the training plans and to avoid injuries. With the results in our hands, we can make a strength evaluation and determine the physical condition of each athlete,” said Neto.

He will help de Brito organize the training process, including physiotherapy, S&C and technical development, among others.

“This is my duty, just to give support to the staff in preparing the integration of different parts of the training process,” said Neto.