Jaja Santiago of the Saitama Ageo Medics in the Japan V.League. Photo from Saitama Ageo Medics
MANILA, Philippines—Jaja Santiago, Marck Espejo, and Bryan Bagunas all took care of business in the January midweek schedule of the 2021-22 Japan V.League season Saturday.
Saitama and Santiago trumped Kurobe in four sets, 25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, in the women’s division at Saiden Chemical Arena in Saiden Ward.
Santiago was a towering presence for the Ageo Medics with 16 points, five of which came off blocks, to lead her club to a 9-6 record for the sixth seed.
Mami Uchiseto and Yuka Sato also finished in double figures with 15 and 10 points, respectively.
Oita Miyoshi and Bagunas gutted out a difficult five-set win over Panasonic, 35-33, 21-25, 26-24, 18-25, 16-14, at Panasonic Arena in Hirakata.
Bryan Bagunas for Oita Miyoshi. Photo from Bryan Bagunas’ Facebook
Bagunas was dominant for the Weisse Adler with 28 points while Emerson Rodriguez and Kota Yamada added 21 and 19 points, respectively, as they improved to 4-13.
FC Tokyo and Espejo, meanwhile, stopped VC Nagano, 26-24, 25-14, 22-25, 25-14, in the men’s division at Sumida Ward General Gymnasium in Tokyo.
Jonas Kvalen had 23 points to lead FC Tokyo while Nozomi Sato added 14 as they improved to a 5-12 record for the eighth seed.
Espejo, meanwhile, started just the first set and didn’t see action in the next three.