‘Sobrang nakakalungkot’: Alas captain Bagunas rues lack of support ahead of Asiad campaign

(UPDATED) Alas Pilipinas captain Bryan Bagunas lamented the lack of financial support for the squad ahead of their campaign in the men’s volleyball tournament of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Bagunas got candid with the team’s status after their 16-25, 25-27, 22-25 loss against South Korea in their opening match, Sunday at the Park Arena Komaki.

He shared the struggles of the team, specifically in the financial aspect, revealing that players even had to borrow money just to attend 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.

“Sobrang tough para sa amin na mag-ensayo araw-araw. Minsan seven or eight lang kami na nag-eensayo. Sobrang hirap, sobrang tough.”

Bagunas shared that they had not received their allowances since July.

“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.”

Even amid their current Asiad run, they had to shell out from their pockets especially when hotel meals do not reach them due to conflicting training schedules.

“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 admitted that their collective confidence was affected by the situation. 

“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.

In a statement on Sunday night, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation “acknowledged the concerns” raised by Alas captain Bryan Bagunas after their first game in the 2026 Asian Games.

“The PNVF extends its sincerest apologies to all our National Athletes for the difficulties they have experienced,” the federation said.

According to the PNVF, its current leadership is doing a “comprehensive inventory and accounting” of its financial records. Nonetheless, it maintained that PNVF President Frank Lao has “personally advanced funds to address many of the concerns” of the national teams.

“We will work tirelessly to deliver better,” the federation said in its statement.

Lao was officially elected as the new president of the PNVF in August, replacing the embattled Tony Boy Liao.

The PNVF had been suspended by the international governing body of volleyball in May due to “serious governance concerns.”