For the first time in two years, Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas will be on opposite ends of the court.
But it’s not happening over at Paco Arena. Instead, it will take place at Showa Denko Dome tonight at 6:00PM and tomorrow at 2:00PM when Tokyo visits Oita Miyoshi.
For Espejo, he is just grateful to be back in Japan after being one of the pioneers for Filipino spikers in the V.League back in 2018.
“First of all, masaya ako na nakabalik ulit ako dito,” expressed Espejo, who was part of Oita from 2018-19.
Besides facing his old team, Espejo, a five-time Spikers’ Turf Conference MVP, can’t wait to face Bagunas in the first-ever match between two Filipino imports in the V.League.
The two last faced each other in the finals of the 2019 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference that saw Espejo’s Cignal sweep Bagunas’ Air Force.
“Last 2019 ko pa nakasama si Bryan sa isang court pero magkakampi kami. This time, magkalaban na at dito pa sa Japan so for sure it’s gonna be fun and more exciting.”
Both Oita and Tokyo though need to win their weekend slates.
The Weisse Adler are in the midst of a five-game skid while FC Tokyo has lost all of its six games so far.
Photo by boctan_hiraic
“Of course, kailangan namin ilaban ang club team namin pero we’re still brothers on and off the court.”
Beyond getting the win, Espejo hopes that he and Bagunas can inspire the next generation of Filipino spikers after the matches.
“Malaking achievement to para sa Philippine Volleyball na tatlo kami (Marck, Bryan, and Jaja Santiago) naglalaro dito and we hope na maka-inspire kami ng mga volleyball players na gusto rin maglaro rito na kung nagawa namin ay magagawi din nila.”
