Marck Espejo returns to Japan V. League, signs with FC Tokyo

Marck Espejo is off to Japan anew.

The high-flying volleyball player has struck a deal with FC Tokyo and will see action in the upcoming 2021-2022 season of the prestigious Japan V. League.

His mother club, Cignal HD in the Spiker's Turf, made the announcement on its Facebook account on Wednesday as it wishes Espejo good luck in his new journey.

Espejo is no stranger to overseas stints.

The power spiker out of Ateneo de Manila University previously saw action in Japan in 2018 with the Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler. He also went to Thailand and suited up for Visakha in the Volleyball Thailand League.

Espejo, a five-time UAAP MVP, brought his act to Bahrain when he played as a reinforcement for Bani Jamra in Bahrain Volleyball League last year.

With his signing, the list of Filipino athletes playing in Japan has increased.

Aside from him, volleyball players Jaja Santiago and Bryan Bagunas are also playing as imports in the V. League. Basketball players Thirdy Ravena, Juan Gomez de Liaño, and Kiefer Ravena, meanwhile, have signed contracts in the Japan B. League.

The 24-year-old Espejo is also a mainstay of the national team and was a key cog in the country's historic silver medal finish in the 2019 SEA Games.

—Bea Micaller/MGP, GMA News