MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) Marck Espejo's volleyball journey has taken him from Santa Elena High School in Marikina, to the Ateneo de Manila University, and now, to Japan.

The five-time UAAP Most Valuable Player will suit up for the Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler club, a team based in Oita City, Japan.

Espejo, who led the Blue Eagles to three straight UAAP titles from Seasons 77 to 79, will play for the Japanese club from September 1 to May 5, 2019.

He will first fulfill his contract with Cignal HD in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference before heading abroad to take the next step in his volleyball career in August.

• READ: Alyssa invites future champions to join sports camps this summer

Oita Miyoshi is not an entirely unknown to Filipino fans since the club represented Japan in the Asian Men's Club Championships in Manila last 2014.

Interestingly, the former Ateneo superstar will play for a team called the "White Eagle."

They are set to compete in Japan's V1 League in the 2018-19 season. Espejo will be one of two foreign players in the Oita Miyoshi line-up.

Espejo will return to the Philippines next year in time to play in the PVL Reinforced Conference and the Southeast Asian Games.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.