Bryan Bagunas has been nothing short of reliable as he balances his duties for the Cignal HD Spikers and his Taiwanese club team, Win Streak.
When it comes to reliability, Bryan Bagunas is in a league of his own.
Bagunas has been juggling commitments with the Cignal HD Spikers in the Spikers’ Turf and with Win Streak in the Taiwan’s Top Volleyball League. Yet he has never missed a beat.
Over the past several months, the 6-foot-5 high-flyer’s schedule has been anything but ordinary.
Last March 31, Bagunas completed a triumphant campaign in Taiwan, where he steered Win Streak to a second consecutive TVL title and emerged as the top scorer with a total of 436 points. Just two days after that, he hopped on a flight back to the Philippines.
With barely any rest, Bagunas decided to make his debut for Cignal in the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference last April 3, seeing action in the local volleyball scene for the first time since 2019.
His impact was immediate, showcasing his vaunted offensive prowess to help the HD Spikers rack up victory after victory in their title-retention quest.
[ALSO READ: Spikers' Turf: Bryan Bagunas grateful for Cignal’s unwavering support, warm welcome]
The well-traveled outside hitter made it a priority to be there for Cignal, recognizing the support and flexibility the team had given him to pursue his international career with Win Streak, where he recently signed a five-year extension.
“Siyempre ‘yung ano ko naman sa Cignal, naintindihan naman nila na ang priority ko is maglaro sa international kasi malaking bagay para sa akin ‘yun. Parang mas nage-gain ko ‘yung experience na kailangan ko para sa sarili ko,” Bagunas told One Sports.
“Sobrang laking bagay nun, kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa Cignal kasi naintindihan nila na kailangan ko maglaro sa international scene.”
The demands of juggling commitment even became more challenging for Bagunas in mid-April.
The 26-year-old fought through cramps to deliver a 27-point performance, leading Cignal to a five-set victory over Criss Cross, the newly-assembled team spearheaded by Marck Espejo, in their inaugural rivalry showdown.
Despite the exhausting match, Bagunas didn't take a breather. He packed his bags and caught a flight to Taiwan hours later to join Win Streak for the All-Star festivities in the TVL.
After a week or so, Bagunas returned to Cignal. He picked up right where he left off, consistently scoring in double digits every game from there on out. Bryan's most impressive outing came last Sunday, May 5, when he delivered a conference-best 38 points in a semifinals loss to Criss Cross.
The work ethic and determination of Bagunas underscores his commitment to Cignal, a dedication that is deeply appreciated by head coach Dexter Clamor.
“Siyempre grateful ako having Bryan, iba ‘yung experience niya, iba ‘yung malaking tulong na inaambag niya sa team. Natutuwa ako sa player na ‘yan kasi kahit na may commitment siya doon, may commitment siya dito, kung ano ‘yung mas kailangan i-prioritize doon siya,” Clamor said.
“Natutuwa ako na naga-all out siya dito. Pagod ‘yan, galing pa ‘yan sa Taiwan pero still, nagta-trabaho’t nagta-trabaho para sa Cignal.”
[ALSO READ: Spikers’ Turf: Cignal, Criss Cross take thrilling rivalry to championship stage]
With Bagunas leading the charge, the HD Spikers have returned to the championship round, eager to defend their title against the King Crunchers in a best-of-three series.
And if there's one thing you can count on with Bagunas, it's that he'll always find a way to deliver, no matter the circumstances or the challenge ahead.