Marck Espejo back in Japan with Kubota Spears Osaka in V.League

Marck Espejo.–Photo from Kubota Spears Osaka

MANILA, Philippines — Marck Espejo returns to Japan for the third time after signing a contract with Kubota Spears Osaka.

The team, which played in the V.League Division 2 last season, on Friday announced the signing of the Filipino Outside Spiker for the 2024-25 season.

Espejo, who won a championship with the Incheon Korean Air Jumbos last Korean V-League season, is elated to return to Japan after two years.

READ: Marck Espejo wins first pro title in Korea V-League

“Feels good to be back,” wrote Espejo on his Instagram story.

The five-time UAAP MVP out of Ateneo started his overseas career in Japan in 2018, playing for Oita Miyoshi. He played in Thailand for Visakha Club in 2020 and took his act to Bahrain with Bani Jamra the following year.

Espejo returned to Japan with the FC Tokyo but the club disbanded after the 2021-22 season. But he found a new home after getting drafted by Incheon as its Asian import in South Korea last year.

The Alas Pilipinas star and the Spears will compete in the new V.League, which has already unified 18 other teams in the club league from different divisions.

Kubota will see action in the West District.

READ: Marck Espejo, Umandal lead Alas Pilipinas in AVC Challenge Cup

The top-tier Japanese squads will play in the S-V League — the most prestigious volleyball league in the country.

Espejo could miss the Spikers’ Turf second conference with Criss Cross after earning a new opportunity overseas. 

He played for the King Crunchers in the Open Conference but fell to his former team Cignal, led by Alas teammate Bryan Bagunas, in the finals.

Espejo will lead Alas in the SEA V.League Leg 1 next week from August 16 to 18 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium and fly to Indonesia for the second leg from August 23 to 25.