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Bryan Bagunas a champion anew as Osaka outlasts Suntory in Japan SV. League finals
Alas Pilipinas star Bryan Bagunas captured another overseas title after Osaka Bluteon swept the Suntory Sunbirds, 25-22, 25-20, 25-18, in Game 3 of the 2025-2026 Japan SV. League Finals on Sunday at the Yokohama Arena.
Osaka completed a reverse sweep in the series, dropping the opener before outlasting defending champion Suntory Sunbirds in Game 2 and then dominating the clincher in straight sets.
Cuban outside spiker Miguel Lopez led the show with 19 points anchored on 17 attacks, one block, and one ace while Japanese opposite spiker Yuji Nishida poured in 15 markers built on 12 attacks and three aces as they turned back the top-seeded Suntory.
Aside from Yuji Nishida, Osaka Bluteon is also bannered by several members of the world No. 7 Japan national team, including libero Tomohiro Yamamoto, middle blocker Akihiro Yamauchi, and outside spiker Masahiro Tomita.
Suntory, meanwhile, is also powered by some Japanese standouts such as Ran Takahashi, Taishi Onodera, Masahiro Sekita, and Tomohiro Ogawa with Russian stars Dmitry Muserskiy and Egor Kliuka serving as their reinforcements.
On the way to the title, Osaka finished the elimination round in second place with a 38-6 record, trailing only top-seeded Suntory Sunbirds, which posted an impressive 40-4 slate. Osaka then beat last year's runner-up JTEKT in the semifinals to punch its finals ticket.
The victory gave Bagunas his third title in his overseas stint following his back-to-back titles with the Win Streak in the Top Volleyball League in Taiwan.
—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA News
