Bryan Bagunas relishes opening a new chapter of his career with the Cignal HD Spikers in the Spikers' Turf.
Bazooka Bryan can simply be deployed anywhere.
And the Cignal HD Spikers have given the well-traveled outside hitter plenty of leeway to strike beyond the country's shores.
It'll help the Philippines in the long run, after all.
Bagunas, who recently steered Win Streak to a second consecutive title in the Top Volleyball League in Taiwan, signed a contract extension with the Taiwanese squad last March, as announced on the club team’s social media accounts.
Cignal has knowledge on this matter, says Bagunas, even giving him full support to pursue his overseas endeavors.
“Actually, ang Cignal naman, sabi naman nila basta nasa ibang bansa ako, focus lang daw ako sa tournament ko sa ibang bansa. Then once na pagkatapos naman sa ano, ‘yung vacation ko naman doon, dito naman ako. (Maayos) naman sila kausap – ang Cignal at club ko sa Taiwan,” shared Bagunas.
Driven to repay the trust and support of Cignal, Bagunas suited up for the HD Spikers just days after leading Win Streak to the TVL championship.
The 26-year-old stalwart made a triumphant homecoming in his much-anticipated Cignal debut on Wednesday night. Bagunas helped the HD Spikers make short work of his former team, Philippine Air Force Airmen, in the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.
Bagunas, who just arrived in Manila on Tuesday, served as the spark plug for the reigning Open Conference champions, coming off the bench to finish with eight points in the straight-set rout.
“Siyempre sobrang masaya ako kasi ayun nga, nakapaglaro na naman ako dito sa Pilipinas and natutuwa ako na welcome na welcome ako sa Cignal,” the former NU star said.
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It has been five years since Bagunas last saw action in the local circuit.
Back in 2019, the 6-foot-5 high-flier last played for Air Force in Game Two of Reinforced Conference Finals, where he lost to the Marck Espejo-led Cignal.
Bagunas would then make a leap of faith weeks later, as he brought his act to Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler in the vaunted Japan V.League. There, he established himself as a resident import for the Japanese club team, spending three years in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Having decided to carve a new path, Bagunas took his talents to Taiwan, where he would strike gold with Win Streak.
With extensive experience under his belt, Bagunas is eager to impart his learnings to Cignal, which is gunning to defend its throne in the Open Conference.
“‘Yung team naman ng Cignal, alam naman natin na maayos na rin 'yung programa. Ishe-share ko lang ‘yung experience ko kasi ‘yun nga, five years na rin ako naglalaro sa international. So siguro kung ano ‘yung mga natutunan ko, ita-try ko i-share kung pwede. Para lang din mas tumaas yung level natin dito,” he said.
More than anything, Bagunas is glad to have found a home in the winningest club team in the Philippine men’s volleyball scene.
“Kahit noon pa naman, naa-amaze ako sa Cignal kasi nakikita naman natin na nandoon ‘yung dedication nila na i-maintain ‘yung men’s volleyball kasi talagang one of the stable na clubs sila dito sa Pilipinas,” he said.
“Sobrang natutuwa ako na nandito ako sa kanila and willing sila tanggapin ako and nandito ako para tulungan sila.”
Bagunas would have to bring on his A-game on April 14, when the 4-0 Cignal HD Spikers take on the fellow undeafeated Criss Cross King Crunchers in the marquee matchup.