Bryan Bagunas’ Oita Miyoshi sneaked past VC Nagano in comeback fashion, 23-25, 26-28, 25-20, 25-16, 16-14, to avenge their loss yesterday in the 2021-22 V.League Division 1 men’s tournament, Sunday at Cycle Shop Kodama Osu Arena.
The 6-foot-5 Filipino import unleashed 22 points scattered through 17 attacks on a 54.8-percent rate, four kill blocks, and two service aces. He also earned the best player of the game honors for the first time this season.
But it did not look good at all for the Weisse Adler in the first two sets. The Tridents took both, moving a set away from sweeping Bagunas’ squad.
However, a resurgence started in the third frame saw Oita waking up right in the nick of time. They extended the match, 25-20, before dominating the fourth stanza to force a decider, 25-16.
The fifth salvo saw both squads just exchanging points. Then the Philippine national team stalwart came up clutch. He buried a thunderous spike from the backrow to seal the deal, 16-14.
Newly-promoted starter Kenta Koga brought his a-game with 27 points on 26 attacks for the Weisse Adler. Meanwhile, Kota Yamada chipped in 18 points of his own.
Kyogo Kawaguchi and Shodai Abe combined for 21 points.
Oita Miyoshi avoided a tie for the last place with the Tridents, moving up to 3-13 for ninth.
After going for 33 yesterday, Rivan Nurmulki was held to just 22 points on just 19-of-51 spiking rate for the 1-15 VC Nagano.
Hiromasa Miwa and Kota Ikeda finished with 19 points apiece for the cellar dwellers.
Bagunas and his Weisse Adler aim for two straight when they battle Panasonic on Saturday, 1:00 PM, at the Panasonic Arena.
