Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao has lofty goals for his team this year, especially after an up-and-down 2019 that saw their stable drop three World Titles.
Now, the plan is simple: get them all back.
“In 2019 we lost our belts, so now we’re looking at getting it all back this year,” Sangiao said.
Sangiao remains also confident he has the right people with him to achieve those goals.
The soft-spoken mentor has already seen how much his athletes have sacrificed heading into ONE: Fire and Fury on January 31 at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.
He has been working right alongside ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio before he puts his strap on the line against Alex “Little Rock” Silva in the main event.
The Teak Lakay leader is also helping Danny “The King” Kingad for his return against Xie “The Hunter” Wei; Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang in his match with Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit; and Gina “Conviction” Iniong in her clash against Asha “Knockout Queen” Roka.
In preparation for the momentous evening, the team has worked through the holidays, foregoing the festive celebrations to make sure they enter the Circle in the best shape possible.
“In our culture, during Christmas and New Year, we celebrate really hard, but now I have to discipline our athletes first. They have to sacrifice their vacation so they can prepare for the thirty-first,” Sangiao said.
“I told them to take every opportunity which goes our way. They’re very professional about it. They know the consequences if they don’t sacrifice and prepare. I’m lucky to work with very professional athletes.”
Sangiao knows this will be just the start of a tough road ahead, especially with the competition in The Home Of Martial Arts getting stiffer and stiffer.
But they know what must be done, and they plan to show it by winning all their matches in Manila.
“It’s hard to stay consistent and to continuously improve, but that’s what we need to do. We have to be consistent so we can start off on the right note,” Sangiao said.
“I hope we get the five and o.”
Team Lakay battles the world when ONE Championship stages its first show in the Philippines for 2020 at ONE: FIRE & FURY on January 31 at the Mall Of Asia Arena.
Download the ONE Super App to catch all the action live for free.
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Pacio Vs. Silva, Plus Folayang’s Return Confirmed For Manila
Now With Momentum, Eduard Folayang Is Ready To Conquer 2020
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