National Team Support Debate Emerges After Match Defeat
Alas Pilipinas captain Bryan Bagunas raised concerns about financial support surrounding the men’s national volleyball team’s Asian Games preparations. His comments followed the Philippines’ straight-sets opening defeat against South Korea, shifting attention toward conditions surrounding the team’s preparation.
Bagunas Details Financial Problems Before Asian Games
Bagunas discussed the national team’s financial difficulties with ABS-CBN News’ Kennedy Caacbay following the Philippines’ Asian Games opener. The captain said some players borrowed money from teammates and other people simply to attend national-team training sessions.
“Siyempre ‘yung suporta. ‘Yun nga, regarding sa allowance namin, kahit ‘yung mga players nangungutang na from the other players, or sa mga ibang tao para makapunta sa training or pauwi sa kanilang mga bahay,” Bagunas shared.
His account connected the financial concerns directly with transportation, making attendance difficult for some players preparing for international competition. Bagunas particularly emphasized circumstances involving younger teammates, whose ability to reach practices depended partly on available transportation money.
Image from: Go for Gold Philippines / Facebook
Players Borrow Money to Attend National-Team Training
Bagunas described teammates helping each other cover transportation when personal resources became insufficient for regular national-team practices. Those arrangements allowed some players to continue attending despite unresolved financial concerns during the team’s Asian Games preparation period.
Alas Sometimes Trained With Seven or Eight Players
Bagunas said daily preparation sometimes became especially difficult because only seven or eight players attended particular national-team training sessions. Those numbers significantly restricted full-team work because conventional six-on-six volleyball requires two complete units operating simultaneously during realistic repetitions.
“Sobrang tough para sa amin na mag-ensayo araw-araw. Minsan seven or eight lang kami na nag-eensayo. Sobrang hirap, sobrang tough.”
The captain said allowances had not arrived since July, creating transportation difficulties particularly affecting student-athletes within the national-team pool. Bagunas added that teammates worked together financially because some players lacked enough transportation money to attend practices consistently.
“Hindi sila makapunta. ‘Yun nga, ‘yung iba wala kasi silang pamasahe, wala kaming allowance from July. Naiintindihan ko naman kasi most of the players are student-athletes. So ayun, nagtulungan lang kami para mag-ensayo nang kumpleto. ‘Yung iba nanghihiram na talaga. Wala kasi talagang pamasahe.”
Missing Allowances Affect Training Attendance
Limited attendance restricts opportunities for complete rotations, blocking systems, defensive coverage, and setter-hitter combinations before demanding international matches. Bagunas’ account therefore connected the reported financial difficulties with practical limitations affecting how consistently Alas could prepare together.
Bagunas Says Players Covered Some Meals in Japan
Bagunas said financial concerns continued after the national team arrived in Japan for its Asian Games volleyball campaign. He identified the Philippine Sports Commission as providing their current allowance while describing additional expenses players sometimes covered themselves.
“Pati dito ‘yung naging allowance namin is from PSC, other than that wala na, as in sari-sarili na. Minsan kami na lang ‘yung gumagastos ng lunch namin, pagkain namin, kasi ‘di na kami umaabot sa meal eh, kasi ‘yung training namin hindi na umaabot, alanganin sa meal time sa hotel, so ayun kani-kanya na lang na gastos, from own pocket,” he went on.
Bagunas explained that training schedules sometimes conflicted with hotel meal times, leaving players to purchase food using personal money. His account distinguished those additional costs from the allowance support he specifically said the Philippine Sports Commission provided.
Captain Describes Impact on Younger Teammates
Bagunas also described the emotional impact of representing the Philippines while believing the national team lacked sufficient institutional support. His concern focused particularly on younger teammates experiencing those financial and logistical difficulties during a major international competition.
“Siyempre, sobrang nakakalungkot kasi nagre-represent kami for the country, then ayun, hindi namin nafi-feel ‘yung suporta na dapat para sa amin. Ayun, sobrang naano lang ako lalo sa mga bata,” he said.
PNVF Apologizes After Bagunas Raises Concerns
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation responded Sunday night by acknowledging Bagunas’ concerns and apologizing for difficulties experienced by national athletes. The federation said athletes representing the Philippines deserved its full support while recognizing shortcomings surrounding their recent circumstances.
“The PNVF extends its sincerest apologies to all our National Athletes for the difficulties they have experienced,” the federation said.
PNVF said its current leadership was conducting a comprehensive inventory and accounting of financial records during its administrative transition. The federation also said president Frank Lao personally advanced funds addressing immediate national-team requirements while longer-term financial issues remained under review.
Federation Says Financial Review Is Underway
PNVF said its review includes reconciling previously received funds and determining their corresponding disbursements across the federation’s financial records. It also said Lao’s immediate funding covered men’s allowances before departure alongside selected ticketing and visa requirements for national-team members.
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PNVF Promises Better Support for National Athletes
The federation acknowledged that its immediate measures remained insufficient despite efforts to address urgent requirements before the Asian Games. PNVF said its leadership intends to strengthen financial accountability while establishing more sustainable support systems for national-team athletes.
“We will work tirelessly to deliver better,” the PNVF said in its statement.
The controversy emerged after South Korea defeated Alas Pilipinas 25-16, 27-25, 25-22 during the Philippines’ opening Asian Games assignment. Bagunas still led the national team with 15 points despite the preparation difficulties he described immediately following the match.
Alas Continues Asian Games Campaign Amid Concerns
Alas must continue navigating its demanding tournament schedule while the federation addresses financial concerns raised publicly by its captain. Reliable support would give players greater opportunity to concentrate on training, recovery, and competition instead of resolving avoidable logistical problems.
Analytical Breakdown: Preparation Shapes Performance
Training with seven or eight players severely restricts six-on-six repetitions, affecting rotations, defensive coordination, and setter-hitter timing. Bagunas and veteran teammates helping younger players demonstrates leadership, but dependable national-team preparation requires consistent institutional support beyond player assistance. Reliable transportation, allowances, and nutrition would reduce off-court distractions while giving Alas more consistent conditions for high-level preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Bryan Bagunas say about Alas Pilipinas’ allowances?
Bagunas said players had not received allowances since July, leaving some teammates borrowing money to cover transportation for national-team training.
How many Alas Pilipinas players sometimes attended training?
Bagunas said some training sessions had only seven or eight players because certain teammates could not afford transportation costs.
Did the PNVF respond to Bryan Bagunas?
Yes, the PNVF acknowledged Bagunas’ concerns, apologized to national athletes, and said its leadership was reviewing federation financial records.
Who is the current PNVF president?
Frank Lao assumed the PNVF presidency in August 2026 before the federation began reviewing its finances and outstanding obligations.
How did Alas Pilipinas perform against South Korea?
South Korea defeated Alas Pilipinas 25-16, 27-25, 25-22 during the Philippines’ opening men’s volleyball match at the Asian Games.
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