Bryan Bagunas to re-sign with Oita in Japan V. League; looks forward to facing Marck Espejo

Bryan Bagunas will be with the same team when he returns to Japan.

The high-leaping open spiker revealed to GMA News Online that he is set for another tour of duty with his previous club Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler in the 2021-2022 Japan V. League.

Bagunas said he has decided to re-sign with Oita as the team's management has allowed him to fulfil his duties for the national team while also playing as reinforcement.

"I will stay with Oita for at least this season," Bagunas said in Filipino. "I haven't signed but I already told the management that I have decided to play for them again and they were very happy about it."

Despite offers made by other teams, Bagunas said he decided to re-sign with Oita as the team's management has allowed him to fulfill his duties for the national team while also playing as reinforcement.

The National University product said he will leave for Japan once he completes his rehabilitation but will reunite with the national team when the 31st SEA Games kicks off in Hanoi, Vietnam later this year.

The 23-year-old also said that he will not join the nationals in their bubble training in Ilocos Norte next month.

"I will join the team when we are nearing the games just like I did in 2019 and Oita is very okay with that. They understand my commitment to the national team," he said.

Meanwhile, Bagunas beamed with excitement with his looming match-up with another Filipino player Marck Espejo, who recently signed with FC Tokyo and will see action in the V. League this year.

Together, Bagunas and Espejo steered the national team to a historic silver medal finish in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games after dethroning reigning champions Thailand in their semifinals clash.

"It's exciting because it's always nice to see more Filipinos playing here in Japan or anywhere in the world," Bagunas said.

"I'm excited to face him on the court and hopefully our experiences here will help the national team in the future. This is actually what we want—to have many players show their talents in an overseas league."

—MGP, GMA News