Dark clouds loom over the immediate future of Alas Pilipinas Men as star spiker Bryan Bagunas suffered an apparent knee injury in the SEA V.League.
For all intents and purposes, the new era for Alas Pilipinas Men is off to a solid start after picking up a bronze medal in leg 1 of the SEA V.League.
The podium finish comes despite the final-day loss to Thailand, but Alas did its best work for the leg early by taking down Vietnam, scoring the country’s first win in the tournament after six previous failed attempts.
However, dark clouds loom over the immediate future of the men’s national team as star spiker Bryan Bagunas suffered an apparent knee injury in the day-2 loss to Indonesia.
[Related: Alas Pilipinas keep fingers crossed as Bryan Bagunas goes down with apparent knee injury]
Bagunas missed the game against Thailand, and no further updates have been provided on the severity of his injury just yet.
Nevertheless, Bagunas’ injury has served as a pivotal point in forging deeper bonds within Alas Pilipinas Men.
“Masakit para samin, hindi kami nakatulog nang maayos kasi alam mo yun, siya yung kapitan namin eh. Siya idol namin, tapos ganun mangyayari,” Noel Kampton said, who did an admirable job in filling in for Bagunas against Thailand, being the only Alas player to score in double figures with 10 points.
“Sobrang pressured ako kasi pinalitan ko na pwesto kay Bry. Itong game namin na ito, win or lose ilalaban talaga namin para kay kuya Bryan, siya yung heart and soul namin eh. Pinagp-pray namin na okay results niya,” he added.
With Bagunas’ status up in the air, the onus for leadership falls on the team’s other veterans.
Veterans like Kim Malabunga, who was impressive enough to earn Best Middle Blocker in the first leg of this year’s SEA V.League.
[Related: Michaelo Buddin, Kim Malabunga win individual awards as Alas Pilipinas take bronze in SEA V.League]
“Ginawa naming motivation 'yong pagkawala ni Bryan [Bagunas] kasi isa ako sa mga matanda sa team so sabi ko lang is gawin natin 'yong best natin,” he said.
“Kahit wala si Bryan, gawin pa rin natin 'yong best natin,” Malabunga added.
Alas Pilipinas Men will be further tested, as the second leg comes later this week in Indonesia.
(With reports from Inna Mina/One Sports)