Brian Castro signs with Japan's Fragolad Kagoshima for 2026-27 SV.LEAGUE season

Former Ateneo de Manila University standout Brian Castro is set to begin a new chapter in his volleyball career after signing with Japanese club Fragolad Kagoshima for the 2026-27 SV.LEAGUE season, making him the latest Filipino to earn a place in one of Asia's top professional volleyball leagues.

Fragolad Kagoshima announced Castro's signing on Friday, adding another homegrown talent to the growing list of Filipinos who have played in Japan's premier volleyball competition. He joins the likes of Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, Sachi Minowa, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Jia De Guzman, and Maddie Madayag, who have all competed in the league.

The 6-foot-4 middle blocker described the opportunity as one of the biggest moments of his career.

"I'd like to say I'm very excited. This is one of the biggest experiences of my career," Castro said during a press conference.

Castro also revealed how the move came about, thanking Mark Salamat and Ali Castro for helping connect him with the Japanese club.

"Sir Mark (Salamat) introduced me to Ali (Castro), and we talked things through. They found an opening with Fragolad, and that was pretty much it. They introduced me to the team and helped me secure this signing in Japan," he said.

Castro heads overseas following two solid seasons with the Ateneo Blue Eagles, where he played a key role in the team's resurgence in the UAAP.

After finishing fifth in Season 87, Ateneo returned to the Final Four in Season 88 before bowing out in a hard-fought five-set semifinal against Far Eastern University. Castro tallied seven points in what proved to be his final collegiate match.

As he prepares for his first professional stint abroad, Castro believes his time at Ateneo has given him the mindset needed to thrive in Japan.

"I think the one thing I'm going to take away from my time at Ateneo is resilience. We don't give up—we're always ready to climb that hill."

With that mentality, Castro hopes to make a seamless transition to the SV.LEAGUE while continuing to represent the Philippines and contribute to the country's growing presence in international volleyball.