Bryan Bagunas finally made his much-awaited return to the Spikers’ Turf court on Wednesday night.
Bagunas, who has yet to practice with his new team Cignal since arriving from Taiwan, played his first game with the HD Spikers in their 25-10, 25-21, 25-15 sweep of his former squad Philippine Air Force in the Open Conference at the Ynares Sports Arena.
The former league MVP tallied eight points off the bench, providing instant offense for the reigning champions in the lopsided one-hour, 13-minute affair.
“Syempre sobrang masaya ako kasi ayun nga, nakapaglaro na naman ako dito sa Pilipinas and natutuwa ako na welcome na welcome ako sa Cignal,” said Bagunas.
It has been five years since Bagunas played in the country’s premier men’s volleyball league.
Photo from Gelay Davocol/SportsVision
He suited up for Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler in the Japan V.League before finding his way to WinStreak in the Top Volleyball League in Taiwan.
The former National University star spent three years with Oita, taking on the lead role for the struggling V.League squad. Bagunas then found success after transferring to WinStreak, leading the team to back-to-back championships while also winning the MVP award during his first season with the Taiwanese squad.
Bagunas, whose last game in the Spikers’ Turf was back on July 21, 2019 – a Game 2 loss to Cignal in the Open Conference finals, then coincidentally signed with the HD Spikers for the 2024 season.
The two-time UAAP Finals MVP said that it is an honor to suit up for Cignal, considering the team’s rich history in Philippine men’s volleyball.
Bagunas, who recently signed a five-year extension with WinStreak, vowed to repay the HD Spikers’ trust and apply everything that he has learned abroad to help their title-retention bid in the Open Conference.
“Kahit noon pa naman naa-amaze ako sa Cignal kasi nakikita naman natin na nandun yung dedication nila na i-maintain yung men’s volleyball kasi talagang one of the stable na clubs sila dito sa Pilipinas. Sobrang natutuwa ako na nandito ako sa kanila and willing sila tanggapin ako and nandito ako para tulungan sila,” said Bagunas.
“Actually ano naman, yung team naman ng Cignal alam naman natin na maayos na rin yung programa. Ang aanuhin ko lang is yung experience, ishe-share ko lang yung experience ko kasi yun nga, five years na rin ako naglalaro sa international so siguro kung ano yung mga natutunan ko, ita-try ko i-share kung pwede. Para lang din mas tumaas yung level natin dito.”
