Members of Team Lakay showed they are more than just a strike team after a strong in the 2023 ADCC Philippine International Open, where some of the finest grapplers from across the nation converged to showcase their skills.
Team Lakay, an affiliate of the famed Lotus Club BJJ, emerged as a dominant force, securing a remarkable second-place finish in the overall standings where a total of 24 teams competed during the weekend.
Team Lakay is the first and only club in the country affiliated with Lotus Club BJJ.
Two of Lakay’s top mixed martial artist fighters Jhanlo Sangiao and Carlos Alvarez ruled their respective divisions.
Sangiao won the men’s adult intermediate -70kg category as he solidified his reputation as a rising star in the world of grappling.
The Intermediate division is a clustered division of blue and purple belts in BJJ.
Sangiao also bagged the gold in the men’s adult intermediate open weight (Absolute) category while Ban-eg took home the silver medal.
Carlos Alvarez also showcased his prowess in the men’s adult intermediate -76kg division, where he claimed the gold medal.
Alvarez and Sangiao are fresh from their Thailand cross-training trip together with Stephen Loman, Carlo Von Bumina-ang, Jean Claude Saclag, and coach Mark Sangiao.
In the men’s adult intermediate -83 kg division, Jaybe Ban-eg, who climbed to the top of the podium, seized the gold medal after displaying a wide array of technique and tenacity that earned him the championship in a closely contested battle.
Team Lakay’s Joris Jonker also took home the silver medal.
Coach Mark Sangiao said Team Lakay’s overall success at the 2023 ADCC Philippine International Open was a testament to their unwavering dedication, exceptional training, and remarkable talent and underlines the depth and quality of their roster, which comprises some of the most promising and accomplished grapplers in the Philippines.
Sangiao added Team Lakay’s journey to the podium was a collective effort, with each athlete pushing their boundaries and leaving it all on the mat combined with relentless determination and technical brilliance. Pigeon Lobien
