AFTER having a rough ending to 2017, Team Lakay of Baguio City got its 2018 campaign in ONE Championship to a rousing start, going 3-1 in the promotion’s Manila event last Friday, highlighted by another title falling into its hands.
Fielding in four fighters at “ONE: Global Superheroes” at the Mall of Asia Arena, ONE’s first event in the country for the new year, Team Lakay had three of them winning, with flyweight Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio latching on to the interim ONE flyweight title by way of a convincing unanimous decision victory over former champion Kairat Akhmetov of Kazakhstan.
The team outcome was an improvement to the 3-2 that Team Lakay had in ONE’s last event in the Philippines in November that saw veteran Eduard “Landslide” Folayang lose his lightweight title to now-two division champion Martin Nguyen of Australia and Danny “The King” Kingad losing in his title shot for the flyweight belt against champion Adriano Moraes of Brazil.
Bouncing back that way they did to start 2018, Team Lakay coach Mark Sangiao said they are very happy and satisfied for it showed the “reassessment” they did following the tough ending to last year bore fruit.
“Despite the success we had for much of last year, I just felt that we lost grip on some things and we just went back to the basics and work on our weaknesses. And that effort showed tonight,” said Mr. Sangiao in the post-event press conference.
Apart from Mr. Eustaquio, also victorious from the Baguio team were strawweight Joshua “The Passion” Pacio and Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly.
Falling on the raw side, however, was women’s atomweight April Osenio.
In winning the interim flyweight title, 28-year-old Eustaquio (10-6) showed superior striking that rendered the wrestling abilities of Mr. Akhmetov a non-factor throughout the five-round joust.
Landing crisp and clean combinations, Mr. Eustaquio left hardly any doubt who the winner was as all three judges went his way in the end.
The win was a payback to the split decision loss the Filipino absorbed from the Kazakh previously while setting him up for a unification fight with reigning champion Moraes possibly within the year.
“The feeling is unbelievable. Kuya Eduard had this. [Then featherweight] Honorio [Banario] had it. We are proud and I’m happy. I cannot explain the feeling. We have another title here in the Philippines,” said Mr. Eustaquio after his well-earned victory.
“This belt is not mine to take, it’s ours… I am proud to represent this flag all throughout the world. Here is your world champion from the Philippines. Adriano [Moraes] I know you’re there. I got a belt! Give me one more try and I hope to give you a better challenge this time,” he added.
Mr. Pacio (11-2), meanwhile, made it back-to-back victories in ONE after making short work of China’s Lan Ming Qiang with a first-round submission win by way of rear-naked choke.
On the part of Mr. Kelly (10-4), he devastatingly sent Cambodian Meas Meul crashing, knocking out the latter in the opening round with a quick three-punch combination and a solid high kick.
Ms. Osenio (2-4), meanwhile, saw her slide continue, losing her third straight fight after being knocked out by compatriot Jomary Torres in the first round.
Next event for ONE Championship is “Quest for Gold” in Myanmar on Feb. 26. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
