AFTER going 1-3 in their last two outings in One Championship, Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao feels the pandemic has taken its toll on the squad since lockdowns were implemented in March.
Eduard Folayang, former ONE lightweight world champion and the most senior of the team, fell to Antonio Caruso in One: Inside the Matrix on October 31 in Singapore.
Just last week, Kevin Belingon and Lito Adiwang were unfortunate as they fell to their respective rivals in One: Inside the Matrix III, a pre-taped event also held in Singapore.
Geje Eustaquio, former flyweight world champion, was the only silver lining for the squad, taking a unanimous decision win after dominating South Korea’s Song Min Jong.
“Of course, I’m disappointed with the result, as are our athletes. It’s even harder for me as a coach,” said Sangiao.
Team Lakay had to endure more than six months of inactivity as Baguio City and Benguet were placed under enhanced community quarantine in March, where the movement was limited, and later on to general community quarantine.
“I think the long layoff had a very big effect on not just us but all athletes. We have to make some adjustments. The pandemic has been tough. The protocols in place are very strict, but they are for our own safety,” added Sangiao.
Sangiao said Team Lakay has been in this situation before and vowed the squad will come back stronger.
“I’ll have a talk with the whole team and we’ll make the right adjustments so we can come back stronger. Right now, the focus is on studying our performances and identifying where we can improve,” added Sangiao.
And with the year almost over, Sangiao believes his Team Lakay fighters will be tougher when they see action again in ONE and looks forward to rematch against their tormentor.
“I know we’ll be back stronger than ever. As they say, we are the ‘Kings of Rematch,’” said Sangiao.
