Oita Miyoshi absorbed a tough three-setter defeat from Hiroshima, 19-25, 26-28, 28-30, Saturday in the 2021-22 Japan V.League Division 1 men’s tournament at the Showa Denko Dome.
Bryan Bagunas saw himself limited to single-digits anew. He only tallied nine points on an 8-of-25 spiking rate – good for just 32 percent.
Despite the match finishing in three sets, the Weisse Adler provided a good fight. They pushed JT Thunders to the limit in each of the last two sets.
However, they just lacked the finishing touch to completely take the period. On the other hand, Hiroshima was steady down the stretch.
Other import Emerson Rodriguez was held to just five points as the locals were forced to carry the offensive cudgels for the 2-9 Oita.
Kenta Koga and Kota Yamada spearheaded Weisse Adler with 17 and 14 points, respectively. Koga came off the bench in the first two frames.
Six-foot-nine Thomas Edgar unleashed 31 points, built on 27 attacks, two blocks, and two service aces, to lead Hiroshima to a 4-7 win-loss card.
Yudai Arai, 23, was the other JT Thunder in double digits with 12 points.
Bagunas and his Weisse Adler aim to snap their two-game skid tomorrow when they play Hiroshima anew at 12:00 NN at the same venue.
