(1st of 2 Parts)
IN A SIGNIFICANT development, former players of the San Beda University (SBU) Men’s Volleyball Team, widely recognized as the Red Spikers, have come forward with allegations concerning their removal from the team. Speaking exclusively to The Bedan, they outlined grievances regarding what they allegedly describe as a “violation of institutional rules” and instances of “unethical behavior” attributed to the team’s Head Coach.
In a now-deleted Facebook post by Mr. Tomas Africa, former Team Manager of the Red Spikers and current San Beda College Alumni Foundation (SBCAF) Vice President, it detailed how five players from the Season 98 roster were allegedly removed “verbally and with no official reason,” prompting the loss of their scholarship, lodging privileges, and spot in the forthcoming roster for Season 100.
Escalating Grievances
In light of the situation, The Bedan conducted interviews with the former Red Spikers and current Head Coach Ariel Dela Cruz. However, the athletes asked to remain anonymous in order to safeguard their identities and speak openly regarding the matter.
In 2017, SBU appointed the celebrated Nes Pamilar as the Head Coach of the Red Spikers, with Ariel Dela Cruz joining him as assistant coach. Following Pamilar’s passing in January 2019, Dela Cruz subsequently took on the Head Coach mantle for the Red Spikers.
“The day before nag-usap kami, ang sabi niya sa akin ‘dapat ikaw na, kaya mo yan, matagal na tayo magkasama, may tiwala ako sayo,’” said Dela Cruz.
Following Ariel’s instatement, the players were presented with a “hopeful start” given the privileges and benefits, saying “hindi ka basta-basta makakatanggi.”
However, conflicts between the players and their coach arose when the players were reportedly prevented from attending their classes. This escalated to the point where, according to one account, “…Hindi na pinapadala ‘yung phone namin o pag nahuli ka, i-coconfiscate.”
The situation only worsened as the players alleged that they were reportedly “prevented from answering exams,” with one saying, “bigla kami sinabihan na ‘pwede niyo naman sagutan ‘yan nang ibang oras kasi binigay ‘yan the whole day.’”
Addressing these allegations, Dela Cruz states that these instances only occur “kung hindi ko alam, kasi kahit walang exam ginagawa nalang nilang excuses.” Finally, urging the athletes “basta pakita sa akin ‘yung proof na may exam ka.”
Ultimately, the treatment faced by the athletes would culminate into abrupt dismemberment of their benefits.
“Matutulog ako sa dorm, nagpeperform ako sa training, pupunta ako nang tamang oras.” However, when the coach learned that the player was sleeping outside of the dormitory, it resulted in the latter being kicked out of the dorm. “Isang linggo yun. Wala akong meal. Parang homeless ako ng isang linggo. Nakikitira lang ako kung kani-kanino,” he narrated.
The issue then quickly escalated to players having their scholarships threatened, with Coach Dela Cruz asserting, “Kung ayaw sumunod, ayaw mag-training, tatanggalan ng scholarship.” The Head coach justified this by claiming that scholarships are his only leverage, saying, “‘Yun lang bitbit ko eh,” arguing that scholarships are a privilege granted through him. “Akala mo ba privilege ‘yung binigay sayo, na award sayo ‘yun? Hindi, dahil sa coach inaward sayo ‘yun,” he explained.
To set out, insofar as scholarships are concerned, Dela Cruz claimed that each season included a “100% tuition fee discount,” along with “lodging and a daily food allowance of Php300.” However, a former player disputed the claim, alleging that he only received 50% scholarship—a situation similar to that of another former Spiker, he said.
Filing Petitions
In 2020, the players filed a petition addressed to Prof. Christian Bryan S. Bustamante Ph.D., the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) outlining their grievances against the Head Coach, including allegations of misconduct and mistreatment. Moreover, the petition stressed how it “it’s quite hard to work with someone this unprofessional,” as players see themselves “being treated like dogs.”
The petition garnered 15 signatories, all of whom were active players in the Red Spikers roster at the time. It was then forwarded to former Athletics Moderator Ato Badolato resulting in Dela Cruz being reportedly suspended for two weeks.
The issue was abruptly silenced due to the pandemic. But with the resumption of contact sports in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Season 98, Dela Cruz presided over both the Men and Women’s divisions. The Red Spikers finished stage with a silver, while the Lady Red Spikers concluded their run with a 1-8 record.
Circumstances of Termination
The bemedalled Red Spikers were originally set for the season 99 lineup. However, they were eventually displaced from the active roster.
“Ayaw nilang maniwala sa programa ko. ‘Di naman tanggal, pero di ko lang sila pinapansin, ang focus ko dito is sa paglalaro, ba kit ako magfofocus sa kanila?” said Dela Cruz, raising suspicions within the players who allegedly “planned their exit” from the team.
The former Team Captain was initially expected to remain in the lineup, but, according to Dela Cruz, “Kapag pinapunta ko sila sa clinic para mag medical, wala naman siyang napasang requirements.” He also urged the Captain to fulfill the requirements, further noting the leeway and efforts made. “Ilang weeks na binigyan ko siya ng palugi, tinawagan ko na siya, kinausap ko na siya.”
Two days later, the player approached Dela Cruz, expressing their desire to play again. However, Dela Cruz reportedly questioned the player’s intent, stating that their eligibility “should have been addressed earlier.” As a result, the captain was removed from the lineup.
Due to his contractual status, Dela Cruz was set to have his contract expire by July 1 this same year, two months after Season 99 run. However, he was reinstated immediately after termination.
Come July, the players had their suspicions realized and noticed that there was a new group chat moderating the training of the Red Spikers, “hindi nila kami tinanggal doon sa GC na luma.”
They were eventually notified of a tryout taking place but were not told that they themselves were to participate, “ang sabi sa akin ni Sir Aler na pupunta ko doon para tumulong – walang sinabi na magtatryout kami,” said one of the players.
When they arrived at the venue, Dela Cruz told them that they were effectively terminated from the team, “sinabihan ko lang sila, pagdating sa training ayaw naman mag perform, tapos ang ginawa nila puro issue, kaya sinabihan ko na si Sir Aler na ayoko diyan,” said Dela Cruz.
When the players sought Athletics Moderator Dr. Diosdado Aler III, PhD for consultation, he reportedly said “wala daw siyang magagawa dun, desisyon ng coach ‘yan,” said one of the former Spikers.
Unwilling to give up, the players asked for a formal letter of termination but “tinawagan ako ni Sir Aler tapos pinaliwanag na dahil doon sa tryout kaya kami mawawala,” wherein the players responded “dahil sa tryout, kaya ako mawawalan ng scholarship? Di na nagreply, sineen lang.”
Stressing the lack of due process “wala talaga kaming naging formal meeting para sa isyung ‘yun, di man lang nagkaroon ng meeting para may chance na pag-usapan.”
Shortly afterwards, the players promptly had their scholarships and other benefits terminated.
Aiming to shed light on whether or not the tryouts were the grounds for termination, The Bedan has reached out to the athletics moderator. However, he has declined to release a statement for now.
Dela Cruz’s Concerns
Putting his own grievances into light, “lagi lang tayo pupunta dito, maghaharutan, gagastos, may mga equipment pa yun, eh ang reality ng volleyball, hindi naman dapat, kailangan lang natin pagtrabahuhan.” Highlighting the importance of the players mindset, he finishes by saying “if you have heart training, it’s easy to win.”
Dela Cruz further underscored the low wages provided to coaches, and coupled with their inadequate and irregular allowances, the head coach stated how he resorted to shouldering the team’s equipment. To make matters worse “kinakaltasan pa kami ng tax, parang for the love of the sport nalang kaya kami nandito,” he added.
When asked if the coach had received any benefits or support from outside organizations to alleviate the supposed lack of funding, Dela Cruz responded “not really, pero dati nagtatanggap kami.”
But in a direct rebuttal of the coach’s prior statements, contrary to the claim of Dela Cruz supposed initiative of “shouldering the team’s equipments,”the former team manager revealed that he had also funded plane and land fares for recruitment efforts, team upkeep, out-of-town team buildings, lodging, curated recovery meals and even after-game dinners, paid in cash and bank transfer.
Also conflicting with the narrative of the Head Coach, the former team manager also stressed that Dela Cruz received a total of Php805,000 from June 2017 to April 2023 from the MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF). The foundation has also assisted the SBU volleyball sports program with 1 million pesos every year from 2015 to 2023, for a total of Php8 million.
Asking Dela Cruz if there were any efforts of reconciliation leading up to their termination, he said “meron pero sa player kasi gusto palaging may kabig,” recalling how problems would intensify to reach threats like “isusumbong kung kani-kanino.” For Dela Cruz he states his disapproval, saying “di naman pwede ‘yun, kung dito lang sa team, dito lang, paglabas mo sa gym dapat closed na.”
But for the athletes, they said “nagkaroon ng reconciliation, nag usap-usap po lahat,” however, “hindi kami nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob kasi may mga nainclude pang other coaches.”
As a conclusory statement, a former Spiker states “Ang hiling lang namin ‘yung mabigyan, hindi naman sa hustisya, [pero] marinig lang nila kung ano ‘yung totoo. Kung ano ‘yung nangyayaring kababalaghan dito sa San Beda Men’s Volleyball. Sana matigil ‘yung mga ganyang pangyayari. Kasi San Beda is home of the champions. Para narin sa mga bagong henerasyon na maglalaro. Maraming masisirang pangarap hangga’t may mga ganyan. Sana madinig kami or makita ng ibang kapwa nating Bedans na ganito ‘yung nangyayari.”
The grievances of the student-athletes underscore the necessity for a fair and equitable system within San Beda’s athletics, transparency and ubiquity within its rules and policies, and accountability for all parties involved, thus calling for greater measures of oversight. The recurring testimonies as a product of longstanding issues and hostilities in management has led to several key players in abstaining from their dreams and aspirations, if not altogether dismembered. Thus, calling for greater measures in nurturing the athletes to be the best they can be in carrying the banner of the lion’s pride.
(with reports from Dianne Radel Magallon and Prince Piolo Tagarino)