Mark Sangiao laser-focused to put Team Lakay back at the top of ONE

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

It was a rough 2020 for Team Lakay since ONE Fighting Championship’s return to the MMA scene.

Entering the ONE canvass with high expectations coming off their intense series of training during the COVID-19 lockdown, Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao didn’t expect his team would struggle and suffering the handful of losses in the past months.

Team Lakay’s biggest names in Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, and Lito Adiwang all bowed down to their opponents and are expected to bounce back stronger come 2021.

However, this is not the first time that the Sangiao-led squad tasted a sweeping season defeat in ONE FC when in 2013, they suffered a worse 0-5 slate as a team.

“Of course, we have to make a few adjustments here and there. We’re very fortunate that we can train in Baguio City, one of the most beautiful places in the world, especially for martial arts training. We had to deal with some lockdowns which made it difficult to train, but we made the necessary adjustments,” said Sangiao.

As of now, ONE has yet to notify Folayang, Belingon, and Adiwang for a rematch bout against their previous opponents or if they will offer them a quick bout once ONE FC’s 2021 events will be finalized.

“I can’t guarantee the result of next year, but I can promise you we will try our best always. Every athlete wants to win, even our opponents, but there will always be two sides. We’ll try our best to get back on the winning side and stay there,” Sangiao added.

With no scheduled matches and the new year approaching, Sangiao followed up that they will use this time to spend with their families before they go back to training.