Training ground for combatives pushed

BAGUIO. Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao (left) and One Championship lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang flocks Governor Crescensio Pacalso (center) during their courtesy call Monday morning at the provincial capitol. (Lauren Alimondo)
BAGUIO. Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao (left) and One Championship lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang flocks Governor Crescensio Pacalso (center) during their courtesy call Monday morning at the provincial capitol. (Lauren Alimondo)

WITH the continued success of Team Lakay in mixed martial arts, the country’s top MMA team is seeking the help of Benguet province in establishing a training ground for local fighters.

In a courtesy call to Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso on Monday, Team Lakay coach Mark Sangiao and One Championship lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang discussed plans on the previous request of the team to have a training area at the Benguet Sports Complex in Wangal, La Trinidad.

In 2017, Pacalso mentioned the training area be established at the empty lot near the multipurpose gymnasium and would be managed by the mixed martial arts group.

“For athletes to enhance their training there is a need for them to be provided with good facility to improve their training,” Pacalso said.

Aside from the management of the training area, the governor also asked the Cordilleran fighters to train and invite the youth to join sports.

“We can produce more champions if we start them young, we expect better

results in the future,” added Pacalso.

A contract of usufruct is being worked out for the allocation of a training area.

Pacalso added the need in preparing necessary documents and survey of the area to be forwarded to Sangguniang Panlalawigan for appropriate action.

To date, Sangiao added the team utilizes the training area at Kilometer 4 in La Trinidad.

In order to further develop more world champions, Sangiao said they need better facilities and training area.

Team Lakay has currently 15 active professional mixed marital arts fighters competing in the international arena while 15 pro-amateur seeing action in local competition, and 15 junior athletes.

Sangiao and several Team Lakay fighters including Folayang is gearing for their upcoming bout slated in March.

Folayang is set to defend his lightweight world title belt against Shinya Aoki in Japan together with Kevin Belingon who will be defending his bantamweight world championship against Bibiano Fernandez in another One Championship trilogy.

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