By: Jonash Dannug
With UAAP Season 81 Most Valuable Player Bryan Bagunas reportedly in Japan trying-out for club teams, Kim Malabunga and Ranran Abdilla have been tasked to lead the Philippine Air Force-Go for Gold Jet Spikers in their current campaign in the 2019 Spikers’ Turf Reinforced Conference.
“Opo opo, nasa Japan na po siya ngayon. Pero depende kasi parang nagta-try out siya sa mga club teams doon,” said Abdilla.
“Kung sakaling makuha siya, baka for good na siya doon.”
Malabunga – who played with Bagunas in the National University – admitted that it will be hard filling in the void left by the MVP.
“Oo naman, sobrang pressure nun kasi kailangan namin siya.
“Nakita naman sa game namin kanina, sobrang hirap na hirap kami. So parang napilayan din yung team namin ngayon dahil wala siya saka si [Francis] Saura,” said Malabunga.
Sans Bagunas, Saura, and Madz Gampong, Air Force – who bounced back after a tough loss against arch-rival Cignal – gutted out a five-set thriller against the VNS-VC Griffins.
“Main man namin ‘yun eh, isa sa main man namin ‘yun, tapos may receive,” said Malabunga on Bagunas.
“Si Saura din kailangan saka si kuya Madz din wala kaya hirap na hirap talaga kami kanina eh, kitang kita naman.”
On the other hand, Abdilla believes that his teammates can fill in for Bagunas saying, “Meron naman kaming pang palit sa kanya marami kaming outside hitter, pero maganda sana kung nandiyan siya para di kami mahirapan.”
Abdilla and Malabunga echoed each other’s’ sentiments on what the team has to improve now that their ace spiker will be gone for the foreseeable future.
“Unang una, receive namin. Pangalawa ‘yung blockings namin,” said Abdilla
“Siguro service receive, kailangan namin. Blockings, kasi middle blocker eh,” Malabunga added.
However, things aren’t cast in stone yet, as per Air Force head coach Rhovyl Verayo.
“Hindi ko pa masasagot kasi kakarating pa lang nila sa Japan eh. Siguro by next week malalaman ko na kung anong update sa kanya,” said the enlisted Air Force personnel.
“Hindi pa tayo updated eh, pag balik siguro ng ibang players malalaman natin.”
