The power duo of Philippine men’s volleyball is expected to return for the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship.
Due to club team commitments and injuries, it has been quite some time since we saw Philippine men’s volleyball aces Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas playing together on the national team.
The Espejo-Bagunas tandem last shared the taraflex in 2023, when they led the national team during Leg 2 of the Southeast Asian V.League in July, and in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, from September to October.
Two years later, the two aces might just make their long-awaited reunion when the Philippines makes its historic debut at the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship starting this September 12.
“Actually after ilang years po, ngayon lang ulit magkasama kami ni Bryan sa loob ng court. Masaya po ako, na-miss ko po ‘yung aura niya sa loob ng court. Excited ako ulit makalaro si Bryan sa loob ng court,” Espejo said during the MRT Go Live! Event held on Wednesday, September 3, to promote the Philippines’ hosting of the Men’s World Championship.
“Syempre sobrang saya ako na magkakasama ulit kaming dalawa ni Marck sa court, kasi ang tagal na rin nung last namin na nagkasama, parang Asian Games pa ata! So parang eto nga, sobrang excited ako na makapaglaro kaming dalawa for the country,” Bagunas added in a follow-up with The GAME later on.
Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas headline Alas Pilipinas’ 21-man pool for the World Championship, and are currently waiting for the final 14-man lineups to be released ahead of their opener against Tunisia this September 12.
The two aces are currently working their way back to peak condition, with Espejo suffering an ankle injury during the AVC Men’s Nations Cup in June, and Bagunas returning from a one-year layoff after his gruesome knee injury.
“Noong pagkabalik ko po medyo nahirapan kasi mga one month din ako hindi nag-training. Pero ngayon naka-catch up na ako sa condition ng team, personally, meron pa akong ilalabas. Pero dahil team sport naman at team effort natutulungan nila akong maka-recover agad,” Espejo said.
Both stars have been training hard with Alas since their Europe camp, with Bagunas even participating in spiking drills and scrimmages during that period.
“Syempre ako, sobrang saya na nakabalik na ako sa loob ng court. Ayon, syempre hindi ko pa masasabi na 100 percent ‘yung kondisyon ko, pero tina-try ko naman na humabol sa team. Alam naman natin sa team na sobrang taas ng level nila ngayon tas pataas pa nang pataas,” Bagunas shared about his own recovery process.
Laban Alas, Laban Pilipinas!
For both Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas, the FIVB Men’s World Championship is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, given the level of talent they will be up against, and even the privilege of being the host team for this year’s staging.
“I hope sa mga teammates ko, ganon din po ang nafe-feel, and I hope po na ibibigay ko and sila din ‘yung best nila, lalo na nasa Philippines tayo, homecourt. Sana po ma-realize namin na hindi lang siya basta SEA Games or small tournament. Isa po siya sa pinakamataas na event ng volleyball,” Espejo said.
Despite the high-stakes nature of this tournament, the goal for them and Alas Pilipinas remains simple: to show the mettle of the Philippines’ men’s volleyball team on the world stage.
“Magpe-perform lang kami, papakita lang namin kung ano ‘yung mga natutunan namin sa coaches namin. Papakita namin na may chance na makapag-compete ang Philippine men’s volleyball sa world stage. Kumbaga, ito ‘yung start para mas makilala ng Philippine men’s volleyball,” Bagunas shared for his part.
Alas Pilipinas will open their World Championship campaign this September 12 against Tunisia, which will be followed by Egypt on September 16, and a young, but grizzled Iran on September 18.
While they will be up against stronger foes, Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas is confident that Alas, especially their younger teammates, will be able to hold their own starting this September 12. Bagunas, who spent a year-long wait on the sidelines, lauded the huge leap of the nationals’ young guns from the last time they played together.
“Actually, noong first training ko sa kanila, sobrang nagulat ako! Sobrang taas ng improvement na nakita ko sa kanila. Parang hindi nga sila mga bata, compared sa mga dati kong mga nakasama noong naglaro ko last year. Parang ang laki ng in-improve talaga,” Bagunas shared.
Espejo believes that the current generation of players is much more gifted, from their physical talents, up to the exposure they have received from an early age.
“‘Yung mga batang player po ngayon…mas athletic po sila, mas jumper, at mas may power, mas exposed po sila sa ganitong level ng volleyball. Syempre since mas na-expose sila ng bata sila, sana mas madala nila ito habang tumatagal sila sa national team, at alam ko na malayo ang mararating nila,” Espejo said.
Banner image from Marck Espejo on X.