Perhaps one of every young athlete’s ultimate dreams is to represent the country, as carrying the nation’s flag in international tournaments is often seen as the pinnacle of achievement. Many don’t realize that behind this prestigious image lies a frustrating reality.
Photo: Philippine Olympic Committee/Facebook
Unbeknownst to many, numerous national athletes have long complained about receiving little to no financial support from their respective national sports associations.
This alleged lack of funding has often driven some athletes to switch federations—like chess grandmaster Wesley So—or retire early, as was the case with Michael Christian Martinez, who made history as the first Southeast Asian figure skater to qualify for the Winter Olympics.
Unfortunately, this presumed problem remains a recurring nightmare for many national team players.
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Bagunas and the reality of borrowing money for training
Recently, the Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball team gained widespread online attention after team captain Bryan Bagunas bravely voiced the squad’s everyday struggles—alleging that some players are forced to borrow money just to commute to training.
“’Yun nga, regarding sa allowance namin, kahit ‘yung ibang players nangungutang na sa other players, or sa mga ibang tao, para makapunta sa training o pauwi sa kanilang mga bahay,” Bagunas said, detailing the team’s daily hurdles.
“Sobrang tough para sa amin na mag-ensayo. Minsan eight or seven lang kami nag-eensayo. Sobrang hirap, sobrang tough,” he explained. “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.”
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High expectations vs. harsh realities
Beyond the lack of funding, high fan expectations add to the burden on these athletes.
In a sport as popular as volleyball in the Philippines, fans often demand top-tier performances, and results that fall short may draw harsh online bashing.
Despite these unfavorable conditions, the Alas Pilipinas men’s team pushed through their Asian Games campaign, eager to bring pride to the country. Facing off against regional powerhouses like South Korea and China, the Philippine men’s national team went head-to-head with fierce determination.
Alas, Pilipinas ultimately dropped their pool-phase matches and missed the podium, but the team showed immense heart. They proved that Philippine men’s volleyball has massive potential—one that could easily translate into international medals with sufficient support from sports governance structures.
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Josh Ybañez clears the air
Even after players aired their genuine struggles, some netizens criticized the team, dismissing their grievances as excuses and claiming Alas Pilipinas should win a medal before demanding government financial support.
Josh Ybañez, Alas Pilipinas’ libero, immediately took to social media to clear the air.
“Just to clarify, we’re not speaking up to make excuses for that loss earlier or para i-justify ang pag-underperform, hehe. We are always trying our best to play according to what we have,” Ybañez wrote on his Instagram channel.
“Preparation-wise? Tagilid talaga kami diyan pero sabi nga ni kuya Mark, ‘Laban na lang natin ‘to para sa isa’t isa.’ We have each other’s backs. We’re doing it for ourselves and for the team. Kaya nilaban namin ‘tong Asian Games!” he added.
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A long-standing battle for volleyball players
This presumed systemic lack of financial backing is far from isolated. Earlier in the year, a major shakeup occurred within the Alas Pilipinas women’s national team when several key players opted out, citing similar administrative and allowance delays.
Following Bagunas’ comments, Alas Pilipinas women’s middle blocker Fifi Sharma defended the men’s squad online, urging fans and sports enthusiasts to show empathy toward national athletes.
“Grabe guys, no, you won’t know how it feels until you’re in their position. I come from Mandaluyong and we train in QC. Getting a Grab every day to practice for a week would cost me 6–8k. Per week. It’s a sacrifice I can afford to make by the grace of God. When we trained, maulan pa, so sometimes naabot pa ng 700 pesos per trip,” Sharma shared.
“And others are students pa na ‘di naman employed like the rest of us. And our men’s players sometimes don’t get their full salary if it’s the off-season. A little bit of empathy goes a long, long way. I’m super saddened by how some people belittle the battles of athletes, lalo pa those who work in sports. Hay, nakakasad naman,” she added.
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PNVF addresses demands for accountability
As fans rallied behind the team and demanded answers, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF)—the sport’s national governing body—issued a statement addressing the public backlash:
“This is a situation that no National Athlete should ever have to endure,” the PNVF posted on its social media pages. “In the interest of transparency, we wish to shed light on the current situation of the Federation. When President Frank Lao assumed leadership of PNVF, he inherited a Federation burdened with substantial financial liabilities and outstanding obligations.”
“While there have been reports of funding received by the PNVF from various sources, the current leadership is in the midst of a comprehensive inventory and accounting of its financial records, including reconciling funds previously received and determining their corresponding disbursements,” the federation added.
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Institutional reforms and next steps
Before the national team season kicked into high gear, international governing body FIVB suspended the PNVF over ongoing administrative and financial issues. As a result, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) stepped in to oversee national team management and implement necessary governance reforms.
Addressing the volleyball community directly, newly installed PNVF President Frank Lao asked for patience and took full accountability for settling debts left by prior management:
“As president of the PNVF, I take full accountability for what happened to the allowances of both the Alas Pilipinas Men and Women squads as well as the beach volleyball teams. After taking over the PNVF… we were left with nothing but more than ₱30 million in debt. We are now starting to pay all the coaches, settle travel trips, and clear other payables that the federation owes them,” Lao explained.
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“Ako na ang humihingi ng pasensya na nagkulang kami. Pero bigyan n’yo kami ng pagkakataon na makabawi sa inyo. Just give me some time po. Sa akin ito bilang presidente ng PNVF. I take this responsibility. Sorry po,” the PNVF president stated.
While the PNVF’s new leadership has stepped up to absorb accountability and navigate millions in inherited debt, the emotional and financial toll on athletes serves as an urgent wake-up call. If the country truly wants to see its flag rise on international podiums, structural support must match the relentless heart of the athletes on the front lines.
ALSO READ: Alas Pilipinas Men and Women Bound for 2026 Asian Games in Historic Joint Return
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