Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao cannot say anything much about the skills and prowess of his student Kevin Belingon.
For one, Belingon has already proven his caliber being a former bantamweight champion in ONE Championship.
But as Belingon's losing skid keeps on piling up, Sangiao wanted to see the old form that his ward had shown in his seasoned mixed martial arts career.
"Honestly, nakikita ko kay Kevin, medyo kulang dito is 'yong -- maybe I want to see the old Kevin," said Sangiao after Belingon's recent technical knockout loss at the hands of Kim Jae Woong.
"The champion na Kevin na whatever happens, talagang mananalo. Pipilitin niya. 'Yon 'yong gusto kong makita next time kay Kevin -- the fire and the durability."
Belingon, who sustained a 20-10 record, already suffered his fifth straight loss since his disqualification against former titlist Bibiano Fernandes.
From that point, the Team Lakay stalwart once against lost to Fernandes via rear-naked choke, which ended their trilogy, John Lineker, and Kwon Won Il, both via stoppage.
Adding insult to injury would be Belingon's tough loss to Kim despite having the upperhand in the early round with a takedown.
But as long as both fighters got back on their feet, Kim, 29, turned the tides after landing a solid counter straight right which sent Belingon down the canvas.
The South Korean then punished the Igorot warrior with ground-and-pound action before the referee called it a match.
This won't be the end of the road though for the 35-year-old Belingon as Sangiao believes that the Team Lakay veteran should work on his mental toughness to redeem himself and break the curse.
"Skill-wise, I think he's there . He's very good when it comes to fighting, wrestling, grappling. I can't say nothing on his skills but I think he will be focusing more on his mental toughness," added the Team Lakay patriarch.