San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags head coach Rob Labagala praised his coaching staff and players for remaining committed to their program despite what he alleged was a four-month delay in financial support from a team sponsor.
Labagala revealed this on Wednesday following their huge 82-81 upset over Colegio de San Juan de Letran, saying both the coaches and the players have not been receiving the financial support they have been promised for four months now.
"Just to give you an idea, we are four months walang salary and allowance but we continue to fight. Hindi lang ‘yung we fight here sa court, we’re also fighting for life," Labagala told members of the press on the heels of the victory at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
"That’s our status. If you can only realize and put yourself in our position, how our players are fighting for it going into the game with the baggage na meron kami. We play with heart."
(Just to give you an idea, we are four months with no salary and allowance but we continue to fight. Not just the fight here on the court, we’re also fighting for life…. That’s our status. If you can only realize and put yourself in our position, how our players are fighting for it going into the game with the baggage that we have. We play with heart.”)
Labagala clarified that what he's pertaining to is support pledged to them by one of the team’s sponsors, and not by the school itself.
The coach said that the school continues to support the team, but the resources are limited.
"The school is supporting us, nando’n naman but syempre limited. We have a sponsor kasi so our sponsor right now, sad to say, weren’t able to deliver. I hope na sana ma-bless siya kasi mabe-bless din naman kami."
(The school is supporting us, that’s there but of course, limited. We have a sponsor and our sponsor right now, sad to say, weren’t able to deliver. I hope they are blessed because we’ll be blessed also.)
In a statement, San Sebastian’s College President and Superintendent of Recoletos Educational Institutions in the Philippines Fr. Rafael B. Pecson, OAR said that he was aware of the broadcast interview where Labagala said they had not received what the coach called “salary”.
“We are aware of the recent interview aired on GMA in which our Head Coach mentioned that the basketball coaches had not received their salaries for several months. Out of respect for the truth, I wish to clarify that all our coaches and staff have been receiving their monthly salaries faithfully and on time.”
“As a Catholic educational institution, we are guided by truth spoken with charity and charity lived in truth. We understand that emotions can sometimes lead to statements made in haste or frustration, but such moments call us not to anger, but to understanding and dialogue.”
“We hold our coaches, athletes, and staff in high regard. Together, we share one mission: to form minds and hearts into stewards of creation and builders of communion. Let this moment remind us to guard our words with care and to act always in the spirit of Christian brotherhood.”
“May the Lord, who is Truth and Love Himself, strengthen the bonds of respect and trust that unite our community.”
Financial struggles for players
Labagala, a former Barangay Ginebra player in the PBA, was named the coach of the Stags around March 2025 and shared they were able to receive the salaries for the first two months but didn't in the next four months.
One of their players, Jhuniel Dela Rama, admitted that they sometimes would be left with nothing to eat due to the delayed allowance.
"Bagsak po [ang morale namin] kasi walang lakas, wala na kaming makain minsan. Hiram hiram na lang pero si Coach Rob nagbibigay sa amin para lang may pantustos kami," Dela Rama, whose game-winning basket saved the day against Letran, shared.
(Our morale is low because we have no energy, we don’t have anything to eat at times. We just borrow when we can but Coach Rob gives us help so that we can get by.)
He later added that he was thankful for the school as San Sebastian has been providing allowances and free food for the athletes from the canteen.
Before the huge upset against the erstwhile streaking Knights, the Stags were on a five-game slide after absorbing losses to Mapua, JRU, EAC, Benilde, and San Beda to sit at the bottom of Group A alongside Lyceum.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
