TEAM Lakay La Trinidad secured seven gold medals on top of seven silver and seven bronze medals to bag the over-all title in the 30th Team Lakay Grapplers Cup.
It was a 1-2 finish for Team Lakay with its San Fernando, La Union squad earning two gold medals to settle for first runner-up in the one day tournament held at the La Trinidad gym participated by close to 50 grapplers from Baguio, Benguet and La Union.
Fight Corp managed to sneak in one gold medal to settle for a third runner-up finish while Team Lakay Central Gym bagged one silver and five bronze medals to end up 3rd runner-up.
ONE Championship flyweight contender Danny Kingad led the charge for the La Trinidad based gym bagging the absolute division title while Jhanlo Mark Sangiao took home the top prize in the 18 years old 58 to 64 kgs category.
Other gold medalists from Team Lakay La Trinidad are Ricky Olivar (9 - years - old and below), Aldrich Toralba (13 to 15 - years - old), Todwin Minas (16 to 17 - years - old), and Gregorio Antontio Abalos (16 to 17 years old 58 kgs and above).
San Fernando's Taro Barrientos and Dominick Itable took home gold medals in the 65 to 71 and 80 kgs and above weight class respectively while Dave Banguigui of Fight Corps MMA snatched the top plum in the 50 to 57 kgs.
Other participating teams include Kafagway MMA, University of the Cordilleras and Gridlock Fitness Center.
Special awards were also given to Rojon Watawat for the fastest submission (tap out) at nine seconds while Todwin Minas took home the best submission award.
Focusing on clinching and ground fighting, the Team Lakay grappling tournament aims to develop MMA fighters in their submission skills through the use of submission holds which brings together techniques from folk wrestling, judo, Greco-Roman wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, jujutsu (of the traditional form), and sambo.
Submission forms can be used as an element of a larger sport setting common in mixed martial arts. The event also aims to develop the skills of local MMA enthusiasts and prepare them for higher levels of combative sports. (Roderick Osis)