Team Lakay coach Mark Sangiao extended his gratitude to ONE Championship for the mutual trust they have been keeping for almost a decade now, especially with the recent signings this year.
"The promotion trusts us and that they can see big potentials ng ating mga Team Lakay athletes (The promotion trusts us and that they can see big potentials of our Team Lakay athletes)," Sangiao told the Manila Bulletin.
"And we are very thankful that nabibigyan kami ng ganitong opportunity. Hindi madali na makapasok sa isang esteemed global promotion like ONE, but maraming salamat talaga at andoon tayo (And we are very thankful that we were given this opportunity. It's not easy to enter an esteemed global promotion like ONE, but we are very grateful that we are here)."
This year alone, ONE Championship has acquired four new talents from Team Lakay namely Stephen Loman, Jenelyn Olsim, Jhanlo Sangiao, son of coach Mark, and Jeremy Pacatiw.
READ: Jhanlo Sangiao wants to be a future MMA legend
Competing in the bantamweight division, Loman and Pacatiw were both products of Bahrain-based promotion BRAVE Combat Federation before jumping ship to ONE.
Loman was the longest-reigning champion in BRAVE history while Pacatiw is one of the top contenders in the division.
Loman missed his ONE debut against No. 1 John Lineker after testing positive for COVID-19 in April.
READ: Loman to continue working hard despite missing ONE debut
Coincidentally, it would be a stacked bantamweight division in ONE Championship as Jhanlo is reportedly to enter the bantamweights.
Team Lakay veteran Kevin Belingon is also currently the No. 2 bantamweight contender in the Singapore-based promotion while both Jhanlo and Pacatiw were just signed just this month
READ: Coach Mark Sangiao on son Jhanlo: He found MMA and it made me more than proud
Olsim, meanwhile, was a product of ONE Warrior Series before finally making her Circle debut last March.
She had a successful debut after submitting Brazilian foe Maira Mazar to capture the No. 5 spot.