Bagunas joins HD Spikers

VOLLEY

Decorated wing spiker Bryan Bagunas begins to write a new chapter in his storied career after formally signing with Cignal for the coming 2024 Spikers' Turf.

The 26-year-old national team standout led the HD Spikers' seven new acquisitions to shore up their roster heading into their quest for another title.

"I'm very excited to begin this new chapter of my career with the Cignal HD Spikers. We all know that Cignal is one of the most popular and respected teams in men's volleyball here in the Philippines," the National University product said.

Bagunas will hook up with the six-time champions HD Spikers once he finishes his commitments with Win Streak in the ongoing Taiwan's Top Volleyball League.

Tapping the 6-foot-5 open spiker, who also saw action for Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler in the Japan V.League, will fill the void left by another power hitter in Marck Espejo. The long-time face of the franchise parted ways with Cignal after five seasons along with Chumason Njigha, Ysay Marasigan and Manuel Sumanguid.

Aside from Bagunas, the HD Spikers also got Ron Rosales, Giles Torres, Madz Gampong, Nas Gwaza, Cian Silang, and libero Vince Lorenzo.

Lorenzo, a Far Eastern University stalwart, was a member of the national team that saw action in the 2023 Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games.

Playmaker Silang is expected to bring stability to Cignal's offense while Gampong, who last played for AMC Cotabato Spikers, will now play for the team that denied his former club the 2023 Open Conference crown.

Rosales is an experienced competitor having suited up for Dasma, Navy, Imus, and Santa Rosa. Giles Torres is a transferee from Iloilo D'Navigators while Nas Gwaza is a formidable middle blocker.

Cignal will still have former Spikers' Turf Most Valuable Player Joshua Umandal, outside spiker Alfred Valbuena, setter EJ Casaña, opposite Lloyd Josafat, and newly minted team captains Wendel Miguel and JP Bugaoan — who is also the reigning back-to-back best middle blocker in its fold.