Bryan Bagunas laments lack of support for Alas Pilipinas

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas team captain Bryan Bagunas has voiced deep frustration over the national team's financial struggles, revealing that players have not received their allowances since July and have resorted to borrowing money just to commute to training. The revelation came shortly after the squad's straight-sets loss to Japan, where Bagunas scored a team-high 15 points. Speaking on behalf of the squad, the team captain highlighted how the financial strain is hurting player morale and training attendance, particularly for younger student-athletes. "It’s really sad because we represent the country, but we don’t feel the support meant for us. I’m really affected, especially for the younger players," Bagunas shared. He added that the lack of transportation funds often prevents players from attending practice, sometimes leaving as few as seven or eight athletes on the court. The financial burden has followed the squad overseas. While in Japan for their campaign, players have had to pay out-of-pocket for basic necessities like meals when training schedules clash with hotel dining hours. Outside of basic Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) allowances, Bagunas noted that team members are forced to shoulder their own daily expenses. The current national team roster retains the same core lineup from the FIVB Volleyball...