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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider Bryan Bagunas makes fruitful pro return with Osaka, wins first SV.League title

Bryan Bagunas makes fruitful pro return with Osaka, wins first SV.League title

Published May 18, 2026 01:40 pm

At A Glance

  • Bryan Bagunas made a fruitful return in the professional ranks after winning his first title with the Osaka Blueton in the SV.League in Japan recently.
(Bryan Bagunas Facebook post)
(Bryan Bagunas Facebook post)
Bryan Bagunas made a fruitful return in the professional ranks after winning his first title with the Osaka Blueton in the SV.League in Japan recently.
The 28-year-old Bagunas and Blueton sealed their Finals triumph in commanding fashion, completing a 25-22, 25-20, 25-18 Game 3 victory to dethrone the Suntory Sunbirds and capture the SV.League title last Sunday, May 17, at the Yokohama Arena.
“Thank you Lord. Long season, tough battles, beautiful ending. Champions at last,” Bagunas wrote on his social media post.
It was a sweet title breakthrough for the Alas Pilipinas skipper and the Osaka club as it only settled for bronze the previous season.
The Japanese squad is one of the fiercest teams in professional volleyball as it won silver in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship in Brazil last December.
Bagunas managed to enter in Game 1 where he posted three points, yet the Blueton yielded a 26-24, 22-25, 25-16, 25-23 loss to the Sunbirds.
However, the momentum shifted in Game 2 as eventual Finals MVP Yuji Nishida, who delivered the championship point off an ace, and Osaka hacked out a gritty 13-25, 25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 15-9 escape over Suntory to force a rubber match.
Prior to their championship triumph, Bagunas and the Blueton concluded their elimination campaign with a 38-6 win-loss card, just behind the Sunbirds (40-4).
It wasn’t the first time Bagunas, a decorated National University standout, bagged a crown on foreign soil. He had two and an MVP plum when he was suiting up for the Taichung Win Streak in the Top Volleyball League championship two years ago.

Related Tags

Bryan Bagunas SV.Leagues Alas Pilipinas NU Bulldogs
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