MANILA – Bryan Bagunas anchored Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler’s offense as they scored a 23-25, 26-28, 25-20, 25-16, 16-14 win over VC Nagano Tridents in the 2021-2022 Japan V.League men’s volleyball on Sunday at the Cycle Shop Kodama Osu Arena.
The 6-foot-5 Filipino import scattered 22 points, on 17 attacks, four blocks and two service aces, en route to his first-ever Player of the Game honors for the Weisse Adler squad.
Kenta Koga spearheaded the offense with 27 points on 26 attacks, while Kota Yamada chipped in 18 points as the Weisse Adler snapped their six-game losing skid to improve to 3-13 win-loss slate.
Kyogo Kawaguchi and Shodai Abe also made their presence felt, combining for 21 points for Weisse Adler which suffered a five-setter of a defeat to the same team on Saturday night.
The Weisse Adler appeared headed to another defeat after surrendering the first two sets to Tridents but Bagunas and his squad worked their way to snatch the third and fourth set.
In the fifth and deciding set, both squads exchanged points before Bagunas came up with precarious conversions as the Weisse Adler prevented being swept by the Tridents.
Rivan Nurmulki was held to just 22 points, while Hiromasa Miwa and Kota Ikeda finished with 19 points apiece as the Tridents remained at last place in the standings with 1-15.
Meanwhile, Marck Espejo had a better offensive showing but it was not enough as FC Tokyo suffered a 25-18, 22-25, 25-17, 25-17 defeat to Panasonic Panthers at the Panasonic Arena.
The former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles star tallied 13 points, on 11 attacks and two blocks, but FC Tokyo still suffered its third consecutive defeat in the tournament.
Yuma Nagatomo led the way with 18 points while Jonas Kvalen also finished with 13 markers as FC Tokyo slipped to 4-12 win-loss slate. Kunihiro Shimizu stepped up big for Panasonic with 29 points./PN
