UAAP volleyball: Finals MVP Bagunas comes into his own | ABS-CBN

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UAAP volleyball: Finals MVP Bagunas comes into his own

UAAP volleyball: Finals MVP Bagunas comes into his own

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated May 02, 2018 05:08 PM PHT

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Bryan Bagunas was the MVP of the Season 80 men's volleyball finals. Arvin Lim, ABS-CBN Sports

MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 80 men's volleyball finals served as the coming out party for National University's (NU) Bryan Bagunas, as he led the Bulldogs to a sweep of Ateneo de Manila University in the best-of-3 series.

All eyes were on Ateneo's Marck Espejo, and with good reason. The veteran spiker had been named Most Valuable Player for the fifth season in a row, and towed the Blue Eagles to the finals by averaging 46 points per game in the Final 4 against Far Eastern University.

In the championship series, however, Bagunas showed that he was ready to go swing for swing with Espejo. He outscored the Ateneo spiker, 19-16, as NU won Game 1, 25-19, 25-20, 25-23. He then contributed 22 markers when they closed out the series with a 25-20, 31-29, 22-25, 33-31 triumph in Game 2 on Wednesday.

Espejo still scored 30 points in Game 2, but he labored for his hits against NU's stout defense.

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Bagunas was eventually named Finals MVP, a well-deserved honor for the high-leaping spiker who repeatedly shredded the Blue Eagles' defense with his sharp hits.

"Siyempre unang-una, inisip namin na ito na talaga 'yung time para makuha namin 'yung championship. Sabi nga namin sa isa't isa, walang bibitaw sa amin, hanggang sa dulo, hanggang makamit namin 'yung goal namin," said Bagunas, who also had 13 receptions in the game.

For Bagunas, his performance in the finals was a response to a challenge by his coach at the start of the season, as Dante Alinsunurin stressed upon him the need to step up this year.

"Isa din ako sa inaasahan ni coach, simula noong season pa lang, sinabihan niya ako na kailangan niya nga daw ako sa team," said Bagunas.

"Pinakita ko naman na talagang hindi kami susuko, and parang pinapakita ko sa mga teammate ko na hindi na kami basta-basta, hindi na kami bata na ga-ganun-ganun lang, kailangan naming may mapatunayan na talaga," he added.

In that regard, he downplayed his match-up with Espejo in the finals, instead crediting his teammates for how they played against the Blue Eagles.

"Sobrang saya kasi hindi lang ako 'yung gumawa," said Bagunas, who had at least one memorable block against Espejo in Game 2.

"Yung mga teammate ko, tulong-tulong talaga. Hindi ko naman magagawa 'yun kun'di dahil sa mga teammate ko, sa mga coaches at sa mga sumusuporta," he added.

Bagunas should only get better in Season 81, where he is expected to be the top open spiker in the UAAP upon the graduation of Espejo.

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

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