One of the AVC Champions League’s biggest storylines has been the ‘homecoming’ of Thai spiker Jang Bualee to the Philippines.
She may be here for business, but Jang Bualee and her return to the Philippines for the 2025 AVC Champions League has certainly doubled as a homecoming to the country she once left in awe with her electrifying style of play.
Bualee, a household name during the early rise of Philippine volleyball, is in Manila as an assistant coach and manager for six-time Thailand League champions Nakhon Ratchasima, and has made it a point to reconnect with her friends and former teammates in the country amid the one-week club tournament.
Among the many Philippine volleyball peers that Bualee has caught up with is her longtime mentor in none other than Roger Gorayeb.
In a quick interview during Korat’s Pool D finale against PLDT, Gorayeb shared how Bualee personally reached out to set up an emotional reunion as the Champions League fired off during Easter Sunday last April 20.
“Nung Sunday, nagpunta ako doon sa hotel [where the teams are staying], kasi nagkausap kami na may ibibgay nga siya sa amin. So may mga binigay nga, mga sapatos tapos t-shirt, kaya excited ako na magkausap kami eh!” Gorayeb said of his reconnection with Bualee.
“Tsaka ‘yung mga dating teammates niya nagcha-chat sa kanya, kaya natutuwa naman ako kasi matagal na kaming hindi nag-uusap at nagkikita palagi.”
Bualee first made her name in Philippine volleyball during the mid-2000s, suiting up as a resident import for Roger Gorayeb’s San Sebastian Lady Stags in the now-defunct Shakey’s V-League.
Bualee blossomed into a two-time MVP under Gorayeb’s Baste in the V-League, and last played in the Philippines with the BaliPure Water Defenders during the 2017 PVL Reinforced Conference.
“Natutuwa ako kasi ang laki ng contribution niya dito para i-angat ‘yung popularity ng volleyball, napakabait din kasi niya na bata, at malaki ‘yung naitulong niya noong early years nung liga ng volleyball.
More than her electrifying style of play, Gorayeb also pointed out Jang Bualee’s down-to-earth demeanor, which included a touching gesture that highlighted her “Filipino-like” kindness.
“Naa-appreciate ko kasi pati ‘yung ugali niya, parang ugaling Pilipino: hindi mahirap kausap, hindi mahirap pakisamahan, kaya nakakatuwa,” the Capital1 tactician fondly recalls. “Bumalik siya dito parang two or three years ago, doon siya sa bahay nag-stay. Wala lang, para lang mabisita kami, kasi namatay ‘yung wife ko noon. Syempre umiyak din siya, tapos eh wala pa siyang titirahan dito, so sa bahay muna namin tumira.”
On-court reunion with the Phenom
Jang Bualee’s Philippine homecoming will hit its next chapter in the Champions League quarterfinals, where she will face off against Valdez and Creamline for a spot in the semifinal rounds.
From teammates in Ateneo during the V-League, Bualee and Valdez will now reconnect as opponents representing Thailand and the Philippines, respectively.
While she won’t be playing against Valdez anymore, Bualee believes that her familiarity will remain crucial in preparing for a now-wiser and stronger Phenom.
“I think Alyssa is stronger now, and she’s very smart,” Bualee said when asked about facing Valdez. “I have known her since she was young, and until now, she’s still playing. For me, I have changed positions already, and I am a coach now. But maybe I can still help our team a little bit on how Alyssa plays and as we do our homework on her during training.”
Banner image from Jang Bualee on Instagram.