Filipino import Bryan Bagunas and his Oita Miyoshi could not repeat their early February wonders against VC Nagano.
The Tridents handed Weisse Adler their ninth straight loss, 22-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-20, in the 2020-21 Japan V.League Division 1 men’s tournament, Friday evening at the Cycle Shop Kodama Osu Arena in Oita.
The 6-foot-5 open spiker bounced back big time after three consecutive subpar performances, dropping 26 points on 24 spikes and two service aces. Bagunas was efficient, going 24-of-38 in the attacking department.
Curtis Stockton provided 19 markers of his own, while Kota Yamada manned the net with five block kills, ending up with 15 points.
Oita Miyoshi remained dead last in the league behind a 2-29 win-loss record. Both of their wins were at the expense of VC Nagano.
Indonesian import Rivan Nurmulki led all scorers with 29 points on 26 attacks, two aces, and a block. Takahiro Tozaki chimed in 20.
The Tridents improved to 4-27, still the ninth seed.
Bagunas and Weisse Adler will have another crack at VC Nagano tomorrow, 2 pm, at the same Oita arena.
