Chile team captain Dusan Bonacic wrapped up his FIVB World Championship stint with "pasalubong" for family. The Chileans returned to the world championship this year for the first time since 1982.
Chile may have finished its 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship campaign without a win, but team captain Dusan Bonacic made sure to carry home more than just memories.
After wrapping up Pool E play with losses to Germany, Slovenia, and Bulgaria, Bonacic was spotted at the merchandise booth inside the Mall of Asia Arena buying gifts for his family, which included official Chile shirts and even a "Hataw" plushie as a personal keepsake.
“I bought some t-shirts of Team Chile for my family, for my parents, and for my brothers. It’s a nice gift for them,” Bonacic shared.
“I also bought this 'Hataw' plushie for my bedroom, it’s gonna be my souvenir of the World Championship," he added, referring to one of the tournament mascots.
Pasalubong culture
For Bonacic, the simple act of gift-buying carried deeper value, especially with limited opportunities to explore outside volleyball duties.
“For us, it’s very important because we are playing. We don’t have too much time to be a tourist or hanging out outside the hotel," he said.
"So finding this nice store here outside the court is fantastic for us. I think it’s fantastic for every family."
Though Chile’s run ended without a win, Bonacic highlighted that small experiences like these help make the World Championship journey memorable, both for players and the people they return to at home.
No time to wander
While some international squads squeeze in sightseeing amid the tournament, Bonacic admitted his team won’t have the chance to tour Manila.
With their tournament over, the Chileans are flying home immediately as majority of the players get set to prepare for club commitments.
“Tomorrow, we will come back to Chile. Many of us of the team, we are professional players so, start another season in the club. So, we need to come back to Chile, do the luggage again and start over,” Bonacic said.
Despite their early exit, Chile’s mere presence in Manila was historic. The tournament marked the country’s return to the World Championship stage after a 43-year absence, providing valuable experience for the South American side.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.