Former Spikers’ Turf MVP Jau Umandal is looking forward to teaming up with national team teammate Bryan Bagunas in the upcoming 2024 Open Conference, which is slated to open this March.
Umandal believes that Bagunas will bring a lot to the HD Spikers’ title-retention bid after they lost key players Marck Espejo, Ysay Marasigan, Chu Njigha, and Manuel Sumanguid to newcomer Criss Cross during the off-season.
“Para samin, si Bryan, excited kami na makasama si Bryan. Bryan ‘yan eh. Sobrang… hindi lang ako, lahat kami maraming matututunan kay Bryan,” said Umandal during the Spikers’ Turf media day at the TV5 Media Center last Tuesday.
“Si Bryan kasi mostly na nilalaruan ngayon ni Bryan international na so kumbaga, iba-ibang sistema, iba-ibang galaw, iba-iba ng mga skills, so may maitutulong at maitutulong siya samin,” he added.
Umandal said that there is nothing to do but move on after the departure of their key stars, saying that the retooled Cignal is laser-focused on their goal of clinching their fourth Open Conference title.
“Ako siguro ‘di ko muna iisipin yung ganung bagay. Focus ako sa sarili ko at sa team especially. Nandiyan na eh, lumipat na at umalis na yung mga kasama (namin dati). May mga part din minsan na naiisip namin na ba’t kami iniwan ganun pero okay lang, kumbaga trabaho eh. Trabaho kung trabaho,” said the former University of Sto. Tomas star.
“Samin, majority na lang tatanggapin na lang namin. Nandiyan naman yung mga bago na pumalit eh, may mga experience na rin yung mga bago namin and mga talent. May mga nawala, meron ding pumalit. I think mas better ‘to,” he added.
Bagunas’ debut with Cignal will have to wait as he is still fulfilling his obligations with Winstreak in Taiwan’s Top Volleyball League. The 6-foot-5 outside spiker is scheduled to join the HD Spikers in the first week of April.
With him set to miss the initial part of the team’s campaign, Umandal is working doubly as he will be tasked to carry the load and lead Cignal.
“Pressure, nandiyan na ‘yan eh. Siguro ako para sa akin mas pinaghahandaan ko na lang yung gagawin ko. Nagpapakundisyon ako para yung expectations ng mga tao sakin maibigay ko, magawa ko yung best ko,” said Umandal.
“Yun naman lagi yung mindset ko eh, kumbaga ‘pag pupunta ako ng game, training, gusto ko maibigay ko yung 100 percent na makakaya ko.”
