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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Buntan grateful for support of parents, Filipino community

Buntan grateful for support of parents, Filipino community

Published Apr 26, 2021 07:55 pm
Filipina-American muay thai striker Jackie Buntan (ONE Championship)

Filipino-American muay thai fighter Jackie Buntan has expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she has been receiving from her parents and the Filipino community since marking a successful debut in the Circle.

Buntan, proud of her Filipino descent despite being born and raised in the US, will be returning to ONE Super Series on ONE on TNT IV at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on April 29 against Ekaterina Vandaryeva of Belarus.

“I’d like to thank all my fans and supporters in the Philippines for believing in me,” said Buntan, who scored a convincing unanimous decision win over Thai rising star Wondergirl Fairtex last February.

"Knowing I have an entire nation behind me only motivates me to push myself hard to achieve my goals and dreams. This is just the beginning, and the journey ahead is long. I am grateful for the support everyone has shown, and I’m glad I can bring you all along for the ride."

READ: Buntan takes pride in Filipino bloodline ahead of US prime time bout

Although she has not stepped foot yet on Philippine soil, Buntan has acknowledged her Filipino heritage and the support coming from the Filipino community made her a better athlete.

Buntan, the youngest of four siblings, was the only one born and raised in California while her three sisters were all born in Manila to Filipino parents Jessie Buntan and Rosalie Saenz before they moved to the US.

READ: ONE chief Sityodyong impressed with Fil-Am Buntan’s debut

For the most part though, her parents are her number one supporters especially in her professional debut and these factors put ease on her doubts as a fighter.

“When I got home from Singapore, my parents expressed how proud and excited they were for me. I think they were more excited than I was at the time. They said I looked like a completely different fighter and athlete in that fight. The last time they saw me compete was in 2019, as an amateur, so I definitely had a huge amount of time for growth as an athlete from then to now,” said Buntan.

“My family said it was something special for them to witness my professional debut on such a grand stage like ONE Championship. They’ve witnessed me train since I was an 11-year-old girl with dreams to make this a career.

READ: Buntan, a Pacquiao fan, takes pride in Filipino roots

Against Vandaryeva, Buntan will be facing a ONE super series newcomer who suffered defeat at the hands of Janet Todd, the current No. 2 atomweight muay thai contender and atomweight kickboxing champion.

ONE on TNT IV will the fourth and final installment of ONE Championship’s US prime time showing which also features the trilogy between Team Lakay veteran and two-time lightweight king Eduard Folayang and former world champion Shinya Aoki of Japan.

Related Tags

Jackie Buntan ONE Super Series ONE Championship ONE
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