Erwin Tulfo calls out high FIVB Worlds ticket prices, online betting sponsor; Pia Cayetano clarifies issue on betting ad

Concerns about high ticket prices and an online betting advertisement in the ongoing 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship were opened by Senator Erwin Tulfo in a privilege speech Tuesday.

In his speech, Tulfo said the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) allowed the promotion of an unlicensed online gambling site, which is prohibited by Philippine laws.

“Are we sending the message to our youth that illegal gambling is acceptable, basta may pera, that the prestige of a sporting event like volleyball can be auctioned off to the highest bidder kahit bawal?” Tulfo said.

(Are we sending the message to our youth that illegal gambling is acceptable, as long as there is money, that the prestige of a sporting event like volleyball can be auctioned off to the highest bidder even if it's prohibited?)

This is not the first time that Tulfo raised the said topic.

In a senate committee hearing last week, Tulfo opened up about the presence of 1XBet’s advertisement on the court, as seen on some streaming platforms.

Later that same day, PNVF president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara said the said online betting company is a global sponsor of the FIVB, but the local organizers are aware that 1XBET is not allowed to operate legally in the country and that they have no involvement with 1XBET directly. He clarified that the said overlay is not visible in the local airing of the tournament.

"I like to make clarifications because, you know, the technology now sa sports broadcast ay nagiiba na. There’s a lot of, we call it ‘broadcast virtual ads’. In the case of 1XBet, 1XBet is illegal in the Philippines so it’s not shown on domestic television. We can only see 1XBet sa global feed or if you’re a subscriber of Volleyball World,” Suzara previously said.

"It is respected in each country na kung illegal, hindi ipapakita ‘yan."

(I like to make clarifications because, you know, the technology in sports broadcasts have changed. There’s a lot of, we call it ‘broadcast virtual ads’. In the case of 1XBET, 1XBET is illegal in the Philippines so it’s not shown on domestic television. We can only see 1XBET in the global feed or if you’re a subscriber of Volleyball World… It is respected in each country that if it’s illegal, it won’t be shown.)

Senator Pia Cayetano, a member of the Executive Board of the FIVB tournament's Local Organizing Committee (LOC), said Tuesday that Suzara discussed with her the previous concern.

“To be clear, the logos are not used in any local venue. They recognize that the Philippines cannot be used as a platform for this illegal [gambling], it is considered illegal in the Philippines,” Cayetano said in a manifestation, adding that local broadcast partner does not display the sponsor.

“So in fairness to the organizer, mukha naman, ginawa naman ‘yung part nila na ipaalam sa international groups na bawal ito sa Pilipinas,” she added.

(So in fairness to the organizers, it looks like they did their part to inform the international groups that this is illegal in the Philippines.)

High ticket prices

Tulfo also discussed the ticket prices for the tournament.

“Mr. President, mga kababayan, the ticket for this event, nung mga unang araw, range from P15,000 at ang pinakamura ay P1,500. P15,000 para makapanood lang po ng volleyball. Sino naman po ang makakabibili ng ganyang kamahal na ticket? Siyempre hindi pong ordinary ng estudyante,” Tulfo said.

“Hindi rin po ang mga mahilig sa volleyball sa probinsya o mga batang nangangarap na maging volleyball players. This is not inclusion, Mr. President. This is exclusion.”

(Mr. President, countrymen, the ticket for this event, in the first days, range from P15,000 and the cheapest are P1,500. P15,000 to be able to watch volleyball. Who could afford to buy tickets that expensive? Of course, not the ordinary student... And not those who like volleyball from the provinces or kids who are aspiring to become volleyball players. This is not inclusion, Mr. President. This is exclusion.)

Tulfo also talked about how Suzara handled questions about the prices.

“Nang tanungin po si PNVF President Suzara tungkol dito, ang sagot niya, we cannot please everybody. Mr. President, this is arrogance of the highest order. Public trust, public responsibility, and sports development are not about pleasing everybody. They're about fairness, integrity, and inclusivity,” he added.

(When PNVF President Suzara was asked about this, his answer was we cannot please everybody. Mr. President, this is arrogance of the highest order. Public trust, public responsibility, and sports development are not about pleasing everybody. They're about fairness, integrity, and inclusivity.)

Senator Risa Hontiveros also manifested about the high ticket prices, saying that one of her children watched the games.

“Nireklamo din po niya, Mr. President, ‘yung isang pinoint out… na bakit mama ang mahal-mahal na mga tickets,” she said. 

(They complained about it, Mr. President. What was pointed out was, why, mom, are the tickets so expensive?)

Tulfo, however, said that ticket prices had been lowered already.

“Pero ang tanong po, is it lower compared to international benchmarks and the purchasing power of Filipino fans. Medyo hindi pa rin po eh. At saka pangalawa, binabaaan nila kasi nilalangaw na po, sayang, wala na pong nanonood. And then we sponsored that game tournament. We paid so much money for this tournament tapos wala pong return,” he said.

(But the question is, is it lower compared to international benchmarks and the purchasing power of Filipino fans. It's doesn't seem like it. And second, they lowered the prices because nobody is watching. And then we sponsored that game tournament. We paid so much money for this tournament and there is no return.)

Hontiveros supported Tulfo’s sentiment.

“We could have done much better,” she said.

Tulfo called on the Senate to investigate the matter. "Let us not allow volleyball, a sport of passion and unity, to be tainted by illegal gambling and elitist practices," he said.

Prices and attendance numbers

Back in September 15, a social media post by the FIVB Men’s World Championship page announced a 30% off ticket discount for pool phase tickets.

A week later, a 50% discount was also put on all tickets for the Round of 16 until the finals.

In the ongoing quarterfinals, ticket prices range from P250 in the general admission to P7,000 for courtside.

The FIVB also had a promotion that made some tickets available for free for students.

In terms of attendance, 9,245 was the spectator count during the opening game between the Philippine national men's volleyball team, Alas Pilipinas, and Tunisia. The next game against Egypt was watched by 6,043 people, while the final pool match against Iran was witnessed live by 14,240 people.

Estimates for games not featuring Alas Pilipinas, though, were lower.

The tournament is set to run until September 28.

—with reporting by Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News