New Lakay champion
The quote “When one door closes, another opens” could not have more apt for Baguio-based martial arts group Team Lakay recently after one of its own became the latest world champion in ONE Championship.
Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio, 29, successfully unified the ONE flyweight championship after defeating erstwhile titleholder Adriano Moraes of Brazil in their headlining fight at “ONE: Pinnacle of Power” in Macau, China, on June 23.
Eustaquio stood triumphant after a split decision victory over Moraes that made him the third Team Lakay champion in ONE Championship history, following Honorio “The Rock” Banario ( featherweight) and Eduard “Landslide” Folayang ( lightweight). In winning the undisputed flyweight title, Gravity showed his improved game, which he touted in the lead- up to Pinnacle of Power, saying he really prepared hard to see his championship vision through as well as get back on Moraes who dealt him a tough defeat four years ago.
The victory served as a bounce back as well for Team Lakay as a group, which rued hard the defeat of Folayang in November last year that saw him lose his lightweight belt to twobelt champion Martin Nguyen by knockout in front of the Filipino fans here in Manila.
Having had the chance to follow Eustaquio’s career in ONE since 2012, I am very happy for the guy for finally notching the belt in his division.
His journey has been a roller-coaster one as attested by his 11-6 record but through it all what I admire about him is that he is steady in his approach to things as far as his career goes, never getting too high when things are going well and never getting too low when things are not going his way.
Eustaquio and his team forges ahead regardless, sticking to the mission and vision they have set for themselves and Gravity’s latest triumph is further testament to that.
Another thing about Eustaquio is the accountability that he shows every time he steps into the cage, or now rope, particularly when he ends up on the raw end.
He does not make any excuse but instead work on his game to improve and redeem himself and in the process has become very successful in rematches, including this one against Moraes which earned for him a big one.
Eustaquio and Team Lakay being champions in ONE could not be more fitting.
They worked hard for it and went out to get it. Congratulations!