Tokyo sweeps Bryan Bagunas’ Oita as Marck Espejo sits out 4th set

MANILA, Philippines – FC Tokyo finally had another winning weekend in the Japan V. League as they swept the Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler in four sets, 26-24, 22-25, 31-29, 25-20, on Sunday, February 6.

With the win, the eighth-ranked Tokyo improved to an 8-16 record, with half of those victories coming against a 5-19 Oita side still stuck at ninth in the 10-team field.

Filipino star spiker Marck Espejo finished with 9 points off 7 attacks, 1 block, and 1 ace, but curiously got subbed out for good when Tokyo was just ahead by two, 13-11, in the pivotal third frame.

Although the V. League All-Star did not look hurt, he did recently come off a reported shoulder injury that sidelined him for two weeks.

Fortunately, Espejo will have ample time to heal whatever could be ailing him as Tokyo is not set to return until February 19 against the fifth-ranked Wolfdogs Nagoya.

Meanwhile, Espejo’s fellow Philippine national team star Bryan Bagunas flexed his usual all-around prowess, and went down swinging for Oita with 21 points off 19 attacks, 1 block, and 1 ace, while Yuma Nagatomo led all scorers in Tokyo’s win with 22 markers.

Bagunas and Oita will also have a two-week break, and are scheduled to return on February 19 against the third-place Toray Arrows. 

Jaja Santiago and the Saitama Ageo Medics also have a February 19 return game against the Hitachi Rivale following an unfortunate streak of game postponements.

By that point, they would have endured an entire month of inactivity since their last game back on January 16. – Rappler.com