Marck Espejo’s FC Tokyo completed the season series sweep against Bryan Bagunas’ Oita Miyoshi, 26-24, 22-25, 31-29, 25-20, Sunday in the 2021-22 V.League Division 1 men’s tournament at the Sumida City Gymnasium.
Espejo ended with nine points in three sets played as he was not fielded in the fourth set. The multiple-time Spikers’ Turf MVP tallied seven attacks, a block, and an ace.
On the other hand, Bagunas delivered a team-high 21 points in the losing cause. He made more than half of his spiking attempts, going 19-of-36 for 52.8 percent.
Norwegian reinforcement Jonas Kvalen led the way for the victors with 22 points including three kill blocks.
Yuma Nagatomo also got 22 points of his own, while Daigo Yamada had four blocks and finished with seven points.
FC Tokyo got some much-needed elbow room over the Weisse Adler, hiking its record to 8-16 to remain at eighth place and three games above Oita.
The bottom two squads after the regular round will proceed in the relegation match against the top two teams in Division 2.
Venezuelan import Emerson Rodriguez of the Weisse Adler made 19 points, but had a poor attacking rate of 38.6-percent. He converted just 17 of his 44 attempts.
Kyogo Kawaguchi did score in every way possible, collecting six spikes, three blocks, and two aces for 11 points.
Oita Miyoshi dropped its third consecutive outing to fell to 5-19 for ninth.
Both teams will have the next week off and will return on Feb. 19.
FC Tokyo aims for its third-straight win when it battles Nagoya at the same venue at 1:00 PM. Earlier at 11:00 AM, Weisse Adler will meet Toray at the Mishima City Gymnasium.
