Photo from Bryan Bagunas’ Facebook
MANILA, Philippines—Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas were off to a rough start this year as their teams lost their respective matches in the first game day of the 2021-22 Japan V.League after the holiday break.
Oita Miyoshi and Bagunas dropped a disappointing five-setter against VC Nagano, 36-34, 20-25, 16-25, 25-23, 15-13, Saturday at Cycle Shop Kodamu Osu Arena.
Bagunas towed the Weisse Adler with 27 points while Kenta Koga and Kota Yamada added 21 and 20 points, respectively.
The loss sent Oita Miyoshi crashing to a 2-13 record for the ninth seed in the division.
Rivan Nurmulki finished with 33 points for the Tridents who snapped their 14-game losing streak and win their first game of the season.
Tokyo FC’s Mark Espejo. TOKYO FC PHOTO
FC Tokyo and Espejo didn’t fare any better as they lost in three sets, 25-18, 25-18, 25-17, to Panasonic in Osaka.
Jonas Kvalen had 13 points to lead FC Tokyo as Espejo finished with six.
FC Tokyo slipped to a 4-11 record for the eighth seed in the standings while the Panthers is tied at fourth with the Wolfdogs Nagoya at 9-6.
Michał Jaroslaw Kubiak led Panasonic with 13 points.