After yearlong injury, Bagunas leads Alas to promising FIVB worlds run

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Alas Pilipinas captain Bryan Bagunas — back in action after a year on the shelf — casts aside the 'underdog' tag as FIVB worlds host Philippines shows true promise ahead of its make-or-break match against Egypt

MANILA, Philippines – Like any other player his caliber, Alas Pilipinas star Bryan Bagunas would not miss a chance to play for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship if he could help it.

Sidelined more than a year due to a major knee injury, the new national team captain brushed off doubts and jitters and led by example in the Philippines’ first-ever World Championship match, erupting for 23 points in an eventual sweep loss to favored Tunisia.

Though Alas — the biggest underdog in the entire 32-nation tournament at world No. 89 — had itself a slow start with a 12-1 first-set deficit, Bagunas and costar Marck Espejo picked the team’s morale up on the way to a near-heist in the third frame, 25-23, that ultimately still fell Tunisia’s way.

For Bagunas, that was all the motivation he needed to push his team even further and all the proof he needed to compete with the best of the field — the next foe being world No. 21 Egypt on Tuesday, September 16, 5:30 pm, still at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“It wasn’t a good start, but we saw the potential of our men’s volleyball,” he said in Filipino. “I’m just really happy that we had a great third-set performance, though we didn’t want that outcome.”

“For sure, we will bounce back in the next game.”

Against Egypt, Alas faces not only a foe nearly twice as high in the world rankings as Tunisia, but also one that staged a four-set upset of Pool A rank leader Iran last Sunday, September 14.

But none of the numbers matter right now for Bagunas, who is simply ecstatic that he is now part of this historic journey for Philippine men’s volleyball — victorious in his own way after months of worrying if he would even make it in time.

“I’m just happy that I’m back on the court after a year. I’m really happy that I’m again able to help the team,” he continued.

“We all know the teams playing in the World Championship are the top of the top and this top 32 were chosen. We expected all countries to be strong, so we really just need to perform well and apply what we all learned in training. Less errors and more focus [to correct] the little mistakes.”

As always, win or lose, Alas already made history by simply being in the building, but the quest to blaze more trails doesn’t end with one game. – Rappler.com