Despite the glitz and glamor of international success, Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas have always made it a point to return to the Philippines and give back to the country’s flourishing men’s volleyball scene in any way that they can.
After winning his second consecutive Top Volleyball League title with WinStreak, Bagunas flew back home and played for Cignal – despite having no practice with the team yet – in its straight-set victory over Air Force last April 3.
Meanwhile, Espejo, who was coming off a championship campaign of his own with the Incheon Korean Air Jumbos in the Korea V.League, returned to the country last Saturday and immediately joined Criss Cross’ practice just a couple of hours after he landed.
He then suited up for the King Crunchers in their much-awaited clash against Bagunas and the HD Spikers on Sunday, which resulted in a heart-breaking 20-25, 25-15, 23-25, 25-23, 15-12 loss.
While the HD Spikers emerged victorious in what could be the first of many matches in their brewing rivalry with Criss Cross, Espejo believes that the true winners of this monumental matchup are the 2,016 fans inside the Philsports Arena and, of course, the men’s volleyball scene in the country.
“Grabe nagulat din ako. Kung sa Paco (Arena) ginawa ‘to baka kulang pa,” said the former Ateneo star in jest. “Nagulat ako na may mga mukha namin na (hawak yung Criss Cross) fans, yung Cignal fans ang dami rin.
“Talagang inabangan ‘tong game na ‘to. I hope na nag-enjoy sila kahit na yung sinusuportahan nilang team natalo. I hope nabigyan namin sila ng magandang laban,” he continued.
Despite playing in different countries for the past year, the two players – who committed themselves to elevating the status of men’s volleyball in the Philippines – never lost contact with each other, ensuring that their goal stayed the same.
As they continued to chase their dreams in foreign lands, their hearts remained anchored in the Philippines, yearning for their fellow players and fans back home to experience the same level of passion, professionalism, and exhilaration that they encountered overseas.
“Syempre sakin, hindi naman kami nagpapataasan (ni Marck). Basta ang goal lang namin, kasi parati rin kaming naguusap kasi kaming dalawa yung men’s (players) na naglalaro internationally. Ang goal din talaga namin is pakita lang namin kung anong meron yung men’s para ma-excite yung mga tao,” said Bagunas.
The sight of fans filling the stands, the thunderous sound of drums echoing through the historical arena, and the overwhelming roar of the cheering crowd supporting men’s volleyball served as a powerful reminder for the two.
It was a reminder that the unwavering dedication that they poured into the sport they loved throughout the years was not in vain. It was a sign of hope that, when the time comes, Philippine volleyball will be where they have envisioned it in the future.
“For me, syempre sobrang natutuwa ako kasi ito naman talaga yung goal namin. Na dumami yung manood na fans sa men’s volleyball tournament dito sa Pilipinas kasi syempre alam naman natin na hindi ganun kasikat yung men’s dito,” shared Bagunas.
Bagunas and Espejo have been the faces of Philippine men’s volleyball for many years.
From their thrilling rivalry in the UAAP to countless intense battles in the Spikers’ Turf, their presence on different sides of the court has pumped life into a struggling local men’s volleyball scene.
Moreover, Bagunas and Espejo served as trailblazers, with their respective international stints significantly contributing to the growth and development of the sport, while also instilling hope in their fellow players that they, too, could find success on the international stage.
Aside from their fierce rivalry, their on-court collaboration also played a pivotal role in the movement as they spearheaded the Philippines’ historic silver-medal finish in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which ended a 28-year podium drought.
Now, as the country prepares to host the FIVB World Championship next year, Espejo and Bagunas know that the sport needs them now more than ever.
They hope that their gesture, driven by a shared purpose, could help push Philippine men’s volleyball to where it needs to be right now.
“Siguro saming (dalawa), wala naman masyadong special pero sa volleyball fans kasi inaabangan nila ‘to, I hope sa ginawa namin na bumalik kami sa Pilipinas eh napataas namin yung men’s volleyball,” said Espejo.
“Sana magtuluy-tuloy lang yung suporta ng mga fans and kami naman, nandito kami, pagbubutihan namin para maangat yung men’s volleyball,” echoed Bagunas.
