It’s not just the pillars who have left Team Lakay, but also one of its cornerstones.
Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao revealed – accidentally or not – that Joshua Pacio has also left his camp. Pacio joins Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, and Honorio Banario in the exodus.
(c) Eduard Folayang
“Kevin Belingon, on behalf of Team Lakay, I wish you all well in your next step,” his comment on Belingon’s farewell post read. “The decision has been made among us and I’m glad we had that final graceful goodbye talk.
“God bless all of us and all the best. Regards to you Manong Eduad Folayang, Honorio Banario, and Ading Joshua Pacio.”
If Folayang, Banario, and Belingon were regarded as either the past or the present of Team Lakay, Pacio was regarded as one of the next generation – alongside the likes of Lito Adiwang, Stephen Loman, and Jhanlo Sangiao.
Unlike the first generation of Team Lakay which started off with a wushu base, Pacio was bred through various martial arts – of course, including wushu.
Pacio started off his prizefighting career with Sangiao’s farm league, the Team Lakay Championship.
He then made waves in the defunct Pacific Xtreme Combat league, before debuting in ONE in 2016.
In 2018, he finally won the big one, copping the ONE Strawweight World Championship.
Though he lost it in his first title defense, Pacio was able to recover it, making three successful title defenses before giving it up to Jarred Brooks last December.
Pacio has yet to make a formal announcement regarding his departure.
