A decade after joining Singapore-based promotion ONE Championship, Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao isn't done seeking continuous improvement for his fighters composed of the old and new generation.
"Ang dami nating natutunan from 10 years na nagco-coach tayo diyan sa ONE Championship and with the athletes din, ang daming nating natutunan (We've learned a lot after a decade of coaching here in ONE)," said Sangiao.
Aside from his personal relationship with the Team Lakay stalwarts, Sangiao, 42, admitted that his knowledge of the sport -- mixed martial arts itself -- also grew relatively through the years.
'"Yong improvement, 'yong ano 'yong kailangangang matutunan pa, we need to learn those things para maidagdag pa sa mga kulang natin and ayun 'yong isa ko ring nakikita -- na they were always willing to learn (We always seek improvement and find ways to improve what we lack. I also commend my athletes because they were always willing to learn)."
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Team Lakay, known for its bread and butter of striking, has shown improvement not only in ONE Championship but also in other promotions such as BRAVE Combat Federation.
In ONE alone, Sangiao has produced four world champions in Joshua Pacio, the reigning strawweight champion, two-time lightweight titlist Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, former bantamweight titleholder, and Banario, who was the former featherweight king.
Year 2018 proved to be the golden year for Sangiao and Team Lakay as they held four ONE titles simultaneously in a year.
And then comes the next generation, led by Pacio this time, with the rise of Danny Kingad, Jeremy Pacatiw, Jenelyn Olsim, and Sangiao's son Jhanlo.
Lito Adiwang, former two-time No. 5 strawweight contender, and Stephen Loman, long-time bantamweight champion in BRAVE, were also part of the growing list Team Lakay has.
That said, Sangiao is also building high hopes for Team Lakay's future as far as its facilities and equipment are concerned.
"As much as possible, improvement palagi. Pati sa mga gyms, facitilies natin. We have to upgrade (As much as possible, we really need to improve. We also need to improve our gyms and facilities)," said Sangiao, a former wushu gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games.
"Alam naman natin 'yong mga facitilities... sa doktor pa lang talo na tayo. So kahit man lang sa mga facilities makatapat natin sila (Facitilities are given and we know that when it comes to doctors alone, we are at a disadvantage. So at least with our facilities now, we can level with the others)."
On the athletes' end, Sangiao also lauded his wards for their initiatives in exploring and learning more about nutrition and health as well as finding their respective therapists.
" team work to improve para mapakita natin 'yong kakayahan ng mga athletes natin (We also need team work to improve. In that way, we can showcase the best of our athletes)," he added.
Meanwhile, along with Team Lakay's commemoration, ONE Championship is set to hold its grandest event yet in ONE: X, the promotion's 10th-year anniversary event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on March 26.
READ: Adiwang, Miado set all-Pinoy clash in ONE: X; Folayang faces Muay Thai great Parr in ONE: X