Bryan Bagunas’ focus right now is squarely on Alas Pilipinas Men’s campaign in the 2025 FIVB World Championship.
But the high-leaping spiker is watching the other teams closely as well, especially with his future teammates at Osaka Bluteon bannering their respective nations.
Bagunas recently signed a deal to reinforce Osaka in the upcoming season of top-flight Japan SV.League. At Osaka, Bagunas will team up with several caliber players, several of whom are competing in the World Championship.
“Nagiging proud ako kasi alam naman natin na ‘yung mga magiging teammates ko sa Osaka ay Olympic champion at mga high-level players,” Bagunas told GMA News Online on Tuesday after steering Alas to a historic four-set romp over Egypt.
“Sobrang proud ako na nakikita ko sila dito at kasama ko dito sa World Championship. Nakaka-inspire din.”
[I’m feeling proud because we know that my future teammates at Osaka are Olympic champion and other high-level players. I’m so proud to see them here and to play alongside them at the World Championship. It’s inspiring.]
Osaka has four players currently seeing action for the world no. 7 Japan with libero Tomohiro Yamamoto, outside spiker Masato Kai, opposite hitter Hiroto Nishiyama, and middle blocker Larry Evbade-Dan.
FIVB Men’s World Championship. Team Japan’s Larry Evbade-Dan and Tomohiro Yamamoto. Photo: (C) Volleyball World
Aside from them, Osaka features other Japanese stars like Yuji Nishida and Akihiro Yamauchi, both of whom are not part of their World Championship roster.
Japan has yet to barge into the win column after falling to Turkey and Canada in Pool G. With a 0-2 card, the crowd favorites have dropped out of contention.
Another Osaka import in French setter Antoine Brizard is also leading the reigning back-to-back Olympic gold medalist France in Pool C, where they hold an even 1-1 card.
The 31-year-old Brizard is currently 22nd in the setting department following France’s heartbreaking five-set loss to Finland on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Cuba’s team captain Miguel Lopez, who’s also an import for Osaka, is also in the World Championship. He dropped 11 points in their four-set loss to Portugal but did not see action during their sweep victory over Portugal.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
AloJapan.com