TEAM Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao expressed satisfaction with his young squad's progress in breaking the stigma of producing one-dimensional fighters who excel only in striking.
This comes with the rising success of his students, from now-contracted main roster fighter Carlo "The Bull" Bumina-ang to ONE Friday Fights standout Carlos "Limitless" Alvarez.
While Bumina-ang finished Mauro Mastromarini at ONE Fight Night 30 this past Saturday with his powerful left hand, he displayed excellent takedown defense in the win, which allowed him to finish his opponent on the feet.
Before that, Alvarez showcased the team's ground skills when he secured a submission victory by putting Seiya Matsuda to sleep via d'arce choke at ONE Friday Fights 101.
"For me, I always look at the results and I'm seeing the results now. Our students in Team Lakay are showing that they can hang with whoever, be it on the striking or on the feet," Sangiao said.
"That's what consistent training does. We've been competing in Manila for various submission tournaments, we took home medals in that tournament, and through that their confidence in grappling is growing."
Team Lakay continues grind
For Sangiao, the squad's continuous improvement demonstrates that the team isn't resting on its laurels.
The soft-spoken mentor has turned to his network throughout the years for local support, while also expanding globally — bringing in Lotus Club BJJ black belt Cristian Hein to train his fighters and coaches, while also joining the BJJ club's global program.
"On my end, I've been around jiu-jitsu ever since 2004. I've been training with some of the best BJJ fighters in the Philippines like Erwin Tagle, Stephen Campos. I've trained with them in Manila," he said.
"That relationship has stayed and that's why we're able to compete and train with them in those tournaments.
"Then we brought in an Argentinian coach so we can be registered in Lotus worldwide, so we'll be in line with their program."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
