MAKATI, Philippines – Team Lakay showed they are more than just a strike team after nearly dominating the 2023 Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Philippine International Open, where some of the finest grapplers from across the nation converged to showcase their skills.
Now an affiliate of the famed Lotus Club Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), Team Lakay emerged as a dominant force, securing a remarkable second-place finish in the overall standings besting 22 other teams who competed during the weekend.
Team Lakay is the first and only club in the country affiliated with Lotus Club BJJ.
In the men’s adult intermediate -83 kg division, it was Jaybe Ban-eg who climbed to the top of the podium, seizing the gold medal after displaying a wide array of technique and tenacity that earned him the championship in a closely contested battle.
Team Lakay’s Joris Jonker also took home the silver medal.
In the men’s adult intermediate -70kg category, Jhanlo Sangiao delivered a remarkable performance that earned him the gold medal, solidifying his reputation as a rising star in the world of grappling.
The Intermediate division is a clustered division of blue and purple belts in BJJ.
Sangiao also bagged the gold in the men’s adult intermediate open weight (Absolute) category while Ban-eg took home the silver medal.
Carlos Alvarez also showcased his prowess in the men’s adult intermediate -76kg division, where he claimed the gold medal.
Alvarez and Sangiao are fresh from their Thailand cross training trip together with Stephen Loman, Carlo Von Bumina-ang, Jean Claude Saclag and coach Mark Sangiao.
Coach Mark stated that Team Lakay’s overall success at the 2023 ADCC Philippine International Open is a testament to their unwavering dedication, exceptional training, and remarkable talent.
It underscores the depth and quality of their roster, which includes some of the most promising and accomplished grapplers in the Philippines.
Sangiao also said that Team Lakay’s journey to the podium was a collective effort, with each athlete pushing their boundaries and leaving it all on the mat combined by relentless determination and technical brilliance.
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