Alas Pilipinas Men entered the 2026 Asian Games carrying more than just the pressure of representing the Philippines.
Following the team’s opening match against South Korea on September 27, team captain Bryan Bagunas publicly revealed that some members of the national men’s volleyball team had been dealing with financial difficulties during their preparation for the Asian Games.
According to Bagunas, some players had to borrow money simply to get to training. At times, he said, only seven or eight players were able to attend practice because others did not have enough money for transportation.
He also said the team had not been receiving its regular allowance from the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, or PNVF, since July.
The PNVF responded later that same day, apologized to the players, acknowledged that its support had not been enough, and promised to address the financial problems.
But there are several important details behind the story.
Did Alas Pilipinas receive no financial support at all? What happened to the players’ allowances? What did the PNVF say? And how did the situation affect the team’s preparation?
Here’s what we know so far, based on statements from Bagunas and the federation.
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What Did Bryan Bagunas Say?
Bagunas spoke about the financial difficulties after Alas Pilipinas lost to South Korea, 16-25, 25-27, 22-25, in its opening match of the men’s volleyball competition at the Asian Games in Japan on September 27. GMA Network
His comments went beyond what happened during the match.
Bagunas said some players had been borrowing money from teammates or from other people so they could travel to and from national-team practices.
He told POC Media:
“Regarding sa allowances naman, talagang kahit ‘yung mga players nangungutang lang from other players or sa mga ibang tao para makapunta sa ibang training and pauwi sa kanilang bahay.”
He added that there were training sessions when only seven or eight players could attend because some teammates did not have transportation money.
Bagunas specifically said the team had been without its allowance since July, adding that the situation was particularly difficult because many members of the squad are student-athletes. GMA Network
That’s probably the most important part of this entire story.
This wasn’t simply a complaint about players wanting bigger allowances.
According to the team captain, the financial situation had reached a point where some players could not consistently get to training.
Were Alas Pilipinas Players Really Unpaid Since July?
This part needs to be explained carefully.
Bagunas said the players had not received their allowance since July.
Reports from Philippine Star and Pilipino Star Ngayon specifically described this as the monthly allowance coming from the PNVF. Philstar
However, this does not mean the players received absolutely no financial assistance from any organization.
Bagunas separately confirmed that Alas Pilipinas players received an allowance from the Philippine Sports Commission during the Asian Games.
So the more accurate way to describe the issue is this:
The players were receiving PSC support at the Asian Games, but Bagunas said their regular federation allowance had not been received since July. GMA Network
That distinction is important.
Saying that “Alas Pilipinas had no budget” would oversimplify what Bagunas actually revealed.
There was financial support coming from the PSC, while the reported problem centered on missing or insufficient federation allowances and other expenses that players still had to shoulder themselves.
Players Also Paid for Some of Their Own Meals
The issue didn’t end once the team arrived in Japan.
Bagunas said their Asian Games allowance came from the PSC, but players sometimes had to use their own money for food.
According to Bagunas, there were instances when the team’s training schedule conflicted with the hotel’s meal schedule. If they missed the provided meal, players sometimes had to buy their own lunch or food. GMA Network
Bagunas said:
“Minsan kami na gumagastos ng lunch namin, pagkain namin.”
He described the situation as disappointing because they were competing internationally while representing the Philippines.
Again, though, it’s worth being precise.
The reports do not say the delegation was completely without meals or accommodation. Bagunas specifically described occasions when training times caused players to miss hotel meals, leaving them to shoulder the cost themselves.
Why Did Some Players Have to Borrow Money?
The biggest problem appears to have happened during the team’s preparation in the Philippines.
Bagunas explained that many Alas Pilipinas players are student-athletes.
Without the regular allowance they expected, some apparently did not have enough money to cover transportation to practice.
The players then tried to help each other.
Some borrowed from teammates. Others borrowed from people outside the team.
Bagunas said this resulted in incomplete practices, with sometimes only seven or eight players showing up. GMA Network
For a national volleyball team preparing for the Asian Games, that’s a significant logistical problem.
Volleyball practices aren’t just individual workouts.
A team needs setters, hitters, blockers, liberos and other players together to work on rotations, offensive systems, defensive positioning, serve reception and game situations.
Bagunas did not claim that the allowance problem alone caused the Philippines’ loss to South Korea. In fact, when discussing the match itself, he focused on the team’s errors and problems closing sets. GMA Network
So it would be unfair to turn this into a simple narrative that “Alas lost because they had no money.”
What can be said factually is that Bagunas described a preparation period in which financial problems sometimes prevented the team from practicing with a complete group.
What Did the PNVF Say?
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation responded only hours after Bagunas’ comments became public.
And notably, the federation did not dismiss his claims.
PNVF apologized to the national athletes and acknowledged that some players had been forced to spend their own money and, in some cases, borrow money.
The federation said:
“We recognize the sacrifices our athletes have made, including having to shoulder their own expenses and, in some instances, borrow money.”
PNVF also acknowledged that the support it had provided was “not enough.” GMA Network
That acknowledgment is significant because it means the federation broadly confirmed that the players had experienced the financial difficulties described by Bagunas.
Why Does PNVF Say It Has Financial Problems?
PNVF said its current leadership inherited what it described as “substantial financial liabilities and outstanding obligations.”
Frank Lao took over as PNVF president in August 2026, and according to the federation, the new administration has been reviewing its financial records.
PNVF said that review includes determining funding previously received by the organization and reconciling how those funds were disbursed. Philstar
The federation did not publicly provide, in the statements covered by these reports, a detailed peso figure for those liabilities.
It also did not publicly release a complete accounting showing exactly how much allowance remained unpaid to each player.
That means claims about exactly how much money is missing, where particular funds went, or who is personally responsible would go beyond the publicly confirmed information available at this point.
PNVF has said it is still conducting an accounting of the federation’s finances. Philstar
Did PNVF Provide Any Money Before the Asian Games?
Yes, according to the federation.
This is another detail that needs to be included because it adds context to Bagunas’ remarks.
PNVF said Frank Lao personally advanced money to respond to immediate needs of the national teams.
According to its statement, Lao personally provided allowances to the men’s team before its departure for the Asian Games.
The federation also said he helped cover ticketing and visa requirements for certain members of the delegation. Philstar
PNVF further said it accommodated a request for an additional round-trip ticket for one team member.
So there were attempts by the current leadership to address some immediate expenses.
At the same time, PNVF itself acknowledged that those measures were not enough.
Is There a Contradiction Between Bagunas and PNVF?
At first glance, there appears to be a question that needs clarification.
Bagunas said the players had not received their allowance since July.
PNVF, meanwhile, said Lao personally gave the men’s national team allowances before they left for the Asian Games.
Both statements have been publicly reported. Philstar
What hasn’t been publicly explained in detail is how those two things relate to each other.
For example, the federation’s statement did not specify whether Lao’s personally advanced money covered all of the regular allowances allegedly unpaid since July, only part of them, or was a separate pre-departure allowance.
The reports also do not provide the exact amounts.
Until either Bagunas, PNVF or another official source provides those details, it’s better not to assume.
What is confirmed is that Bagunas said regular allowances had been absent since July, while PNVF said its new president later advanced some money before the team’s departure.
What Role Does the Philippine Sports Commission Play?
This is another important distinction.
The Philippine Sports Commission is the government sports agency that provides financial assistance and other forms of support to national athletes and National Sports Associations.
Bagunas explicitly said the players were receiving an allowance from the PSC during the Asian Games. GMA Network
The PSC has a broader program for athlete support as well. In 2025, for example, the commission announced an across-the-board ₱5,000 increase in national athletes’ and coaches’ monthly allowances beginning that August. Public Service Commission
Its 2026 procurement program also includes funding related to athletes’ preparation and participation in international competitions, including travel, accommodation and other program expenses. Public Service Commission
But PSC support and PNVF support are not necessarily the same thing.
The PNVF is the national sports association responsible for volleyball, while the PSC is a government agency supporting Philippine sports more broadly.
That’s why Bagunas could truthfully say the team had a PSC allowance while also raising concerns about the lack of their federation allowance.
Did the Financial Problem Affect Training?
According to Bagunas, yes — at least in terms of attendance.
He said some training sessions had only seven or eight players because others did not have money for transportation. GMA Network
What we cannot say as a confirmed fact is exactly how much that situation affected the team’s eventual Asian Games performance.
There isn’t enough evidence to measure that.
Alas Pilipinas still competed against South Korea and pushed the second and third sets before losing in straight sets.
The Philippines committed 23 errors compared with South Korea’s seven. Bagunas himself pointed to those mistakes and the team’s difficulty finishing sets when discussing the defeat. GMA Network
So the financial problems were part of the team’s preparation story, but they shouldn’t automatically be presented as the cause of a particular match result.
What Was PNVF’s Apology?
PNVF’s response was unusually direct.
The federation said national athletes deserve full support and acknowledged that the situation experienced by the players should not happen.
It promised stronger financial accountability and said rebuilding trust would require more than statements.
The federation said:
“Our athletes deserve better. Philippine volleyball deserves better.”
PNVF also promised to establish a clearer financial picture, strengthen its systems and provide better support to national teams moving forward. GMA Network
At this stage, however, those are commitments.
The next factual development to watch will be whether the federation releases more details about the outstanding allowances, its financial review and when players actually receive any remaining payments.
Who Is Bryan Bagunas?
Bryan Bagunas is one of the most experienced players on Alas Pilipinas Men and is serving as team captain at the 2026 Asian Games.
The outside spiker has represented the Philippines in international competition for years and returned to national-team action after recovering from an injury that had kept him out for an extended period.
His role as captain also gives additional context to why he spoke publicly about the situation.
His comments were not merely about his own finances.
He repeatedly referred to younger teammates and student-athletes who, he said, had difficulty attending practice because they lacked transportation money.
What Happened Against South Korea?
The controversy surfaced after Alas Pilipinas’ opening Asian Games match.
South Korea defeated the Philippines:
First set: 25-16
Second set: 27-25
Third set: 25-22
The second and third sets were much closer than the opening frame, but the Filipinos struggled with errors and finishing sets.
The Philippine Star reported that Bagunas scored 15 points in the match. Philstar
Alas Pilipinas is grouped with South Korea, China and Chinese Taipei in Pool D of the men’s volleyball competition. GMA Network
So, Did Alas Pilipinas Have “No Budget”?
Not exactly.
That’s probably the biggest misconception to avoid when talking about this story.
Based on the available information:
The team did receive financial support from the Philippine Sports Commission.
PNVF says its president personally advanced money for some allowances and other Asian Games-related requirements.
But Bagunas says regular allowances had not been received since July, forcing some players to borrow money, cover expenses themselves and occasionally miss training because they couldn’t afford transportation. Philstar
PNVF subsequently acknowledged the athletes’ financial difficulties and admitted that the support it had provided was insufficient. GMA Network
So “allowance and financial-support problem” is more accurate than saying the national team had absolutely no funding.
What We Still Don’t Know
There are still several unanswered questions.
Public reports reviewed as of September 28 have not established the exact amount of the allegedly unpaid PNVF allowances, how many players were affected, how much each athlete was supposed to receive or precisely when all outstanding payments will be settled.
PNVF has also not yet publicly released the complete results of the financial inventory and accounting it says its new leadership is conducting. Philstar
There is also no publicly documented breakdown, in the reports currently available, showing exactly which expenses are supposed to be covered by the PSC and which are supposed to be covered by the federation.
Those are important details to watch because they will help clarify whether this was mainly a cash-flow problem, an administrative delay, inherited debt, a funding shortfall or some combination of those factors.
For now, going beyond those confirmed facts would be speculation.
Why Bryan Bagunas Speaking Out Matters
The bigger story here isn’t simply that a national athlete complained about money.
It’s what Bagunas says the lack of allowance was doing to the team.
Players allegedly borrowing transportation money from one another is one thing.
National-team practices sometimes going ahead with just seven or eight athletes because others couldn’t afford to travel is another.
And then there is the fact that the federation itself acknowledged that players had been forced to shoulder expenses and borrow money.
That makes this more than an unverified accusation from one athlete.
PNVF has publicly recognized that a genuine support problem existed. GMA Network
The question now is how quickly that problem gets resolved.
Final Thoughts
Bryan Bagunas’ comments have opened an important conversation around the support being provided to Alas Pilipinas Men.
But it’s also important to keep the story accurate.
Bagunas did not say that the team received absolutely no government support.
He confirmed that the players received an allowance from the Philippine Sports Commission during the Asian Games.
His main concern was that regular federation allowances had reportedly not been received since July and that the financial shortage had become serious enough for some teammates to borrow money just to attend training. GMA Network
PNVF has apologized, acknowledged that its support was insufficient and said its new leadership inherited financial liabilities that it is still reviewing. The federation also says president Frank Lao personally advanced funds for some immediate team expenses before the Asian Games. Philstar
Those are the facts we have right now.
What comes next will matter just as much: whether the remaining allowances are paid, what PNVF’s financial review eventually reveals and what changes are made so national-team athletes do not have to borrow transportation money simply to report for practice.
