Three months of no salary for volleyball players.
Volleyball analyst and host Mela Tunay spoke out on social media blasting the management of one team for allegedly failing to pay its players, and urged the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) as well as the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) to take action.
Tunay, a former volleyball player herself, shared on Wednesday night in a series of posts on X (formerly known as Twitter), how one official in particular failed to pay players for months.
"For a team na PUNO NG LOGOS NG SPONSORS ang jersey, nasaan ang budget for the players?" She asked. "I hope the PVL and GAB look into them, (because) right before I retired, (me) and my former teammates were also victimized by THAT person. At madami na talaga 'yan nabiktima!"
"SHAWARAWT SA SENIOR BUDOL, may araw ka rin."
Tunay admitted that the "biggest reason" why she retired from playing volleyball was because she and other players were not paid as promised.
"Hello, breadwinner ka (tapos) 'di ka sasahuran?" She wrote, noting how they were particularly vulnerable during the pandemic.
"Nabiktima kami at our most fragile moment," she admitted. "Pero the moment na I found another opportunity outside (volleyball), I grabbed it to survive. Pero ('yung) ibang players, walang nagawa."
Tunay opened the topic following a couple of Reddit posts asking for legal aid.
"Hearing na GINAGAWA NIYA PA DIN 'YAN sa players na gusto kong magtrabaho, NAKAKAGIGIL TALAGA! HE never honors contracts at 'di makapalag (ang) players!" she posted.
Tunay then recounted promises of being paid by next week, which turned out to be three months. She also claimed how players from the provinces, convinced to play for this official, had to borrow money just to fly to Metro Manila but did not receive compensation.
"Pagdating dito, budol pala. Wala nang nakuha, abonado pa!" Tunay declared.
"Nag-team captain pa 'ko sa team na 'to at bilin ni budol sa 'kin WAG KO BABANGGITIN NAME NIYA SA INTERVIEWS. Sketchy pero di 'ko na pinagtuunan ng pansin. Pwe. Kulong niyo 'yan," she added.
(CF)