Team Lakay taking pride in how far it has come
STARTED over a decade ago with a lot of struggles and questions whether it would succeed on the goals it has set for itself, Baguio-based martial arts group Team Lakay has gone on to become one of the top organizations in the land. It is something that it takes special pride in, seeing it as a direct result of the hard work and determination the people behind it put in.
Established in 2003 by a group of martial arts practitioners led by Mark Sangiao, Team Lakay had a “simple” vision when it started, that is to promote and help grow martial arts in general locally and produce world- class athletes that can represent not only the Cordilleras but the entire country, which 14 years later since opening shop it believes to have done, by and large.
“Prior into going to mixed martial arts we trained in kickboxing, which was popular then in Baguio, and then wushu, which got our interest so much. Then in 2002 MMA was on the rise and we saw it as a good opportunity for us to grow,” said Mr. Sangiao in a recent interview with BusinessWorld, as he spoke of the beginnings of Team Lakay.
“Our vision from the start was to produce world-class athletes that can represent the country,” added the former national team athlete.
Mr. Sangiao shared that the early years of Team Lakay were not easy and that they had to show tremendous resolve to forge ahead and steady the ship.
“We encountered a lot of problems early only. Foremost is financial. There were times that we did not have money for training. Also we had to sacrifice some time away from our families. But what got us through was our passion for what we are doing and eventually we found ways to overcome such problems,” said Mr. Sangiao.
As it grew as a group and proved itself in the realm of MMA, various MMA companies started noticing and it became a steady fixture in the Universal Reality Combat Championship ( URCC) and Pacific Xtreme Combat (PXC).
Later on opportunities to fight in ONE Fighting Championship ( now ONE Championship), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Brave Combat Federation came, which helped Team Lakay’s growth, Mr. Sangiao said, as it only inspired their fighters to do better and aim high.
In particular, Mr. Sangiao mentioned ONE for the steady exposure that it has given to its fighters in the last half decade.
CHAMPIONS CAME
With more platforms to showcase what it is capable of doing as a group, Team Lakay produced champion fighters who are considered now as some of the best in the region.
The most notable currently is ONE world lightweight champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, one of the incorporators of Team Lakay.
Mr. Folayang seized the ONE title by upsetting MMA legend and erstwhile champion Shinya Aoki of Japan in November last year by knockout.
He is set to make his second title defense on Friday at “ONE: Legends of the World” at the Mall of Asia Arena,” facing off with world featherweight champion Martin “The Situ- Asian” Nguyen in the promotion’s firstever “super fight.”
“It’s a big thing that we are able to produce champions and that they are known today not only in the country but outside as well. It is in line with what we wanted to achieve right from the start,” he said.
“It’s also a testament to the team work that we encourage within the group, making all that we have put in all the more fulfilling,” Mr. Sangiao added.
But while they are very satisfied with how things have panned out for them, Mr. Sangiao said their story is not yet done, and the learning and evolution continues.
“Seeing our fighters become champions is very satisfying for us but just like in life you don’t stop growing and learning. This is MMA and there is still a lot that needs to be learned,” said the Team Lakay head just as he expressed hope that more MMA groups which will represent the country will spring up in the years to come. —