Cignal HD Spikers’ Bryan Bagunas wins the Finals MVP award in the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Bryan Bagunas may have won two consecutive titles in Taiwan but he said nothing beats the feeling of winning a championship in his home country.
After five years, Bagunas finally earned a Spikers’ Turf championship anew after pouring in 22 points built on 15 attacks, five aces, and two blocks in Cignal’s successful title defense in the 2024 Open Conference Finals Game 2 on Friday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
“Iba pa rin ‘yung nag champion ka sa sarili mong bansa,” said Bagunas after scoring the last four points of Cignal’s 25-23, 27-25, 25-21 victory over Criss Cross to win the championship in front of a good Friday evening crowd.
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“Kasi nakikita mo yung mga fans na nandito na sumusuporta sa men’s volleyball and nakikita ko yung growth ng men’s volleyball dito sa Pilipinas. Sobrang nakakatuwa at nakaka-proud.”
Bagunas last won a Spikers’ Turf championship with National University in the 2018 season and a title in the Philippine soil in the UAAP Season 81 in 2019 — the same year he last played in the men’s club league with Air Force.
The former UAAP MVP, who won a pair of titles with Win Streak in Taiwan, found his new home with the HD Spikers, sharing his international-caliber talent to complete a golden repeat.
Bagunas hardly missed a beat in the Spikers’ Turf, crediting his quick gelling to his new teammates and coaches.
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“Hindi lang naman ako tumulong sa kanila, tinulungan din nila ako. Siguro sobrang laking bagay na kahit maiksi palang yung time na kasama sila, nandoon sila para i-guide rin ako sa loob and i-guide sila,” he said. “Malaking bagay yung connection namin siguro kaya nagin maayos performance namin this Finals.”
Bagunas also relished his Finals showdown with fellow Philippine men’s volleyball teammate and Criss Cross star Marck Espejo, with whom he shares the same goal of taking their sport to greater heights.
“Iisa lang kami ng goal, mapaangat yung men’s volleyball, yung level dito sa Pilipinas. So para sa akin, it’s good na rin na magkalaban kami para maipakita namin yung level dito sa Pilipinas,” he said.
Bagunas will return to Taiwan for another pocket tournament with Win Streak but he remains committed to the national team, which is bracing for its hosting of the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship.