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Bagunas joins Nishida, signs with Osaka Bluteon in Japan SV. League

Sports | Volleyball

Bagunas joins Nishida, signs with Osaka Bluteon in Japan SV. League

By Kristel Satumbaga-Villar

At A Glance

Filipino volleyball star Bryan Bagunas is set to join forces with Japan's top gun Yuji Nishida after signing with powerhouse club Osaka Bluteon for the upcoming 2025-26 season of the Japan SV. League.

Photo from Osaka Bluteon

Photo from Osaka Bluteon

Filipino volleyball star Bryan Bagunas is set to join forces with Japan’s top gun Yuji Nishida after signing with powerhouse club Osaka Bluteon for the upcoming 2025-26 season of the Japan SV. League.

The team officially announced Bagunas’ signing on its website on Wednesday, July 16, confirming the addition of the seasoned outside hitter to its roster.

“I’m truly honored to be part of Osaka Bluteon,” the 27-year-old Batangas native said in a statement posted on the club’s social media.

“I’ve always admired the club’s strong culture and vision, and I’ll do my best to support the team in every way to achieve our goals,” he added.

This marks Bagunas’ second stint in Japan. He previously played for the Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler from 2019 to 2022 before moving to Chinese Taipei, where he led the Taichung Win Streak to multiple championships in the Top Volleyball League.

Earlier this year, Bagunas returned to the Philippines to suit up for the Cignal HD Spikers in the Spikers’ Turf.

He now joins a stacked Osaka Bluteon lineup that includes Nishida and several Japanese national team players currently competing in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

His signing, however, comes with some risk, as he is still recovering from a left knee injury sustained over the past year. Despite this, Osaka Bluteon is optimistic that Bagunas will strengthen their roster as it aims to reclaim the SV. League title, following a third-place finish in the 2024-25 season.

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