Besides getting the chance to settle the score with arch-nemesis Adriano Moraes, Geje Eustaquio will head into ONE: Hero’s Ascent on Friday, January 25, more inspired than ever.
Last Saturday, Eustaquio’s Team Lakay stablemate Joshua Pacio suffered a heartbreaking split-decision loss to Yosuke Saruta, dropping his ONE Strawweight World Championship in the process.
Three days have passed since the loss, but Pacio still laments the defeat.
“Nasa akin lahat ng tools, sabi ni coach Mark [Sangiao]. Pero ang kulang sa akin yung confidence to execute yung game plan at yung tools ko,” admitted Pacio after the press conference of Hero’s Ascent held at City of Dreams Manila.
Seeing his teammate, sparring partner, and friend like this, Eustaquio cannot help but feel for him. Moreover, in his own little way, Eustaquio knows that if he can defend his ONE Flyweight World Championship, it will help lift Pacio up.
“It’s pressure, [but] at the same time, a motivation for me to keep going.
“There’s another flyweight title to defend for the team. And I have to do my best to retain the title,” shared Eustaquio, who is making his first title defense.
Knowing how hard Eustaquio has been working for this bout, Pacio firmly believes that his brother-in-arms has what it takes to stop Moraes one last time.
“Confident ako para sa kanya. Nakita ko siya sa training at alam ko, confident ako na mananalo siya.”
