Bryan Bagunas has stood on some of the biggest volleyball stages in the world, but nothing quite compared to the feeling of stepping into Rajamangala National Stadium on Tuesday night — this time not as an outside hitter, but as one of the Philippines’ flagbearers at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
The Alas Pilipinas Men team captain led the country’s largest-ever SEA Games contingent alongside Filipina tennis star Alex Eala, a symbolic pairing of two athletes emblematic of the nation’s booming sporting landscape.
For Bagunas, the honor came as an unexpected — but deeply meaningful — moment.
“Una, siyempre nagulat ako na ako yung isa. Hindi ko na ini-expect kasi alam niyo naman na marami pang mas deserving sa akin na maging flagbearer para sa Pilipinas,” he said. “Pero siyempre, isang malaking honor ito para sa akin — hindi lang para sa akin, pero para sa Philippine volleyball na rin. Masaya ako na ako yung isa sa mga flagbearer."
At 28, the Osaka Blueteon standout has become one of the faces of the sport’s resurgence. Yet even he admitted being humbled by the selection, especially with the chance to share the spotlight with the 20-year-old Eala — a rising global force in tennis.
“Alam naman natin na si Alex talagang world na yung nilalabanan niya. Alam natin kung gaano kataas ang level ng competition na nilalaruan niya,” Bagunas said. “Nakaka-proud lang din na kasama ko siya sa pagiging flagbearer — isang karangalan para sa akin.”
Fresh from his stint in the Japan SV.League, Bagunas flew in to join Alas Pilipinas on Monday and immediately rejoined training. With the SEA Games campaign accelerating, he has been eager to make up for lost time.
His leadership comes at a pivotal moment for the national program. The men’s team is riding high after a historic FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship debut, where they came within two points of a Round of 16 berth and finished 19th — ahead of traditional giants like Japan.
The women’s side has likewise built impressive momentum under captain Jia De Guzman, finishing second in the AVC Nations Cup and securing back-to-back bronze medals in the SEA V.League.
For De Guzman, seeing Bagunas carry the flag — following Alyssa Valdez’s turn as flagbearer in the previous SEA Games in Cambodia — was a powerful symbol of volleyball’s continued rise in the Philippines.
“I think it just goes to show that volleyball is evolving every year. It's rising and we've also seen how well the men's Alas team played this World Championship. Sobrang nakaka-proud,” said the Creamline setter.
“When we heard the news that Bryan was going to be the flagbearer alongside Alex Eala, sobrang nakaka-proud. Kasi he is a representative of the Alas program and we are only in our second year. So, what more in the future and na-excited din kami sa mga paparating next generation athletes sa Pilipinas.”
