By: Jonash Dannug
After playing for Oita Miyoshi Weiss Adler, four-time Spikers’ Turf Most Valuable Player Marck Espejo strongly believes that collegiate rival and national squad teammate Bryan Bagunas has what it takes to thrive in the Japan V-League.
Bagunas – who missed Air Force’s last three games in the 2019 Spikers’ Turf Reinforced Conference – is reportedly in Japan trying-out for Oita Miyoshi, according to Espejo.
“Oo, same team kami,” the 22-year-old spiker disclosed.
“Kayang-kaya ni Bryan. Kasi nakapaglaro na ako doon, nakita ko ‘yung skill level at ‘yung competition doon. So alam ko kayang-kaya ni Bryan, kailangan lang talaga niya mag-improve sa receiving.”
Finding himself as the target of his opponent’s attacks, Espejo asserted that Bagunas must improve his receiving skills to thrive in Japan.
“Si Bryan kasi, lahat naman ng skills niya, in terms of scoring department nandoon talaga eh – spiking, blocking… Siguro kailangan pa niyang i-improve pa ‘yung receiving,” opined the Ateneo product.
“Sure ako pagdating niya doon ‘pag maglalaro na siya, siya ’yung tatargetin ng mga kalaban. So ayun, kailangan niya i-improve ‘yung receiving niya,” he continued.
In the scoring department, however, Bagunas has the complete arsenal to compete against the best of the best in Japan.
“In terms of playing, kaya naman niya gawin lahat eh. Kasi ito na ‘yung peak na Bryan eh, ‘yung prime ni Bryan.
“Sa scoring walang problema. Kahit sabihin kong ako nakaka-score ako doon, eh mas mataas ‘yung percentage niya sa’kin kung scoring or paluan, kasi mas malakas tumalon, mas malakas pumalo. So ayon, mas kakayanin niya kesa sa akin,” reiterated the 6-foot-3 spiker.
Still, despite everything, Bagunas needs to take care of the most important investment when playing professionally – health.
“Kasi kapag ka ganun na professional, una mo munang babantayan ‘yung condition ng katawan mo eh. Kailangan niya munang alagaan ‘yung katawan niya.”
