Former interim head coach Allan Mendoza broke his silence Thursday morning, leveling explosive allegations against the University of the East Athletics Department for what he described as “severe mistreatment” of the Lady Warriors during their winless run in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
This comes in the wake of The UE Dawn’s report about a “mass exodus” of players and coaches that rocked the Lady Warriors camp on Wednesday evening — a move that, according to Mendoza, left several players, including potential graduates, without a team or scholarships.
“They’re always settling for less. Wala na silang ginagawa. Okay na sa kanila yung ganon,” said Mendoza, pointing to deeper institutional issues that may have derailed the team’s potential.
Mendoza, along with his coaching staff, was among those reportedly shown the door. However, he emphasized the more alarming consequence: the student-athletes, some in their final year of college, were cast aside without support — stripped of both their future in the team and financial assistance to finish school.
Tiebreaker Times reached out to UE Physical Education Director Leo Viajar prior to publishing and shared that the school will release an official statement on Friday.
Early Signs of Trouble
Tensions within the team had reportedly been simmering for months.
As early as January — just weeks before the UAAP season kicked off — five core players, including Casiey Dongallo, Jelai Gajero, Kizzie Madriaga, Shamel Fernandez, and Jenalyn Umayam, transferred to the UP Fighting Maroons.
Their former mentor, Obet Vital, also joined UP’s coaching staff.
Mendoza, however, insists the problems began much earlier.
“Nagsimula ito noong kinukuha na namin yung budget for Shakey’s, and then all of a sudden, after namin kunin yung Shakey’s, hindi sila nagbibigay ng concrete details kung nasaan yung Shakey’s funds or what,” he recalled, referring to the team’s funding request for the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Pre-season Championship.
“Hinahanap namin yung Shakey’s funds, wala sila masabi. Doon nagsimula yung bad treatment nila sa amin.”
The situation escalated further after the player departures, with Mendoza revealing that Frank Lao, the chairman of Strong Group Athletics, considered pulling out of their two-year support deal with the team.
Lao ultimately decided to fulfill the commitment after Mendoza convinced him of the players’ trust in Vital’s system.
“Dapat hindi na itutuloy ni Boss Frank yung sponsorship bago pa mag-start yung Season 87… Pero noong kinausap yung mga bata, they wanted to expel me or gusto nila na paalisin na yung buong SGA group. Hindi nangyari kasi yung mga bata ay gusto is to remain yung system of Doctor Obet and the SGA,” Mendoza said.
Settling for Less
(C) UAAP Season 87
Still, Mendoza claimed that UE officials retaliated in disturbing ways.
“Once makarinig sila ng reklamo regarding sa coaching system, sa coach, or kung sa akin daw… Binantaan sila na tatanggalin sila kapag hindi sila sumunod sa gusto ng management. Doon pa lang, na-mental torture na kami.”
Mendoza also accused the department of neglecting the team’s basic needs, even during critical stages of their UAAP preparation.
“Bago kami magsimula, halos wala silang support. For example, yung mga water, mga ice, wala kaming ganon. Lagi nila inaasa sa sponsor… Pero hindi pa nila maibigay,” he said.
He went on to recount personal instances of alleged abuse, saying he was verbally harassed and even physically disrespected during internal meetings.
“Yung nangyari sa akin, ako before the start of Season 87, pinagmumura ako, hinampas ako ng papel sa mukha… Tinanggap ko lang ‘yon kasi nga yung mga bata iniisip ko na wala sila magiging head coach,” he said.
“Kumbaga parang malapit na yung laban, and then on my part, ako, halos minaliit nila yung pagkatao ko. Halos inapak-apakan nila ako, and yet hindi ako nagsalita just for the sake of the student-athlete to fight for me.”
According to Mendoza, the most distressing part was the mindset of just going through the motions of the season.
“They’re always settling for less. Wala na silang ginagawa. Okay na sa kanila yung ganon… Actually, before the start of Season 87, ang gusto nila, iba ang mag-coach. Okay lang daw na matalo sila, okay lang daw na zero wins sila, susuportahan pa rin sila,” he said.
“’Yon yung nakakaalarma. Kasi [the UAAP] is a big league, and yet ganon yung mindset nila.”
Mendoza confirmed The UE Dawn‘s earlier report that the released players were left hanging, with no clear direction or academic safety net.
Among the 11 players from Season 87, several — including Van Bangayan, Ashley Canete, and Tin Ecalla — were reportedly among those stripped of their athletic scholarships.
“Ngayon, namomroblema ang players ko kasi lahat ng graduating, tinanggalan nila ng scholarship. Binalik nila yung nangyari last time. Yung banta nila, tinotoo na nila sa mga bata. And doon ako naaawa,” Mendoza lamented.
