Team Lakay fighters has proven they have more arsenals at their disposal aside from striking after nine of its 12 athletes bagged gold medals including five silvers and four bronzes at the close of the 2023 Pan Asian BJJFP Gi and No Gi International Open at the Ayala Malls Circuit recently.
Carlo Von Bumina-ang and Nahuel Gandolfi took home two gold medals apiece to lead Team Lakay, with Bumina-ang bagging the top mint in the 73-kilogram and absolute division; while Gandolfi topped the no gi under 73.5-kg. and the no gi absolute while adding another silver in the gi under 76-kg. division.
“We have proven competitive tayo, pati sa grappling palaban ang ating mga athletes,” said coach Mark Sangiao, who went straight to the venue after returning from Bangkok, Thailand with Carlos Alvarez.
Other gold medalists for the squad were Joris Jonker in the 85.5-kg. and Jaybe Ban-eg in the 79.5-kg.
Southeast Asian Games kickboxing gold medalist Jean Claude Saclag also took home a gold medal in the 67.5-kg. while Jhanlo Mark Sangiao, who is currently preparing for his Aug. 4 fight, went home with the top mint in the 73.5-kg.
Indian national Ayan Ekef, who has been cross-training with Team Lakay for almost a month in preparation for his international mixed martial arts bout this Aug. 5 where he will be representing India, also snatched a gold in the juvenile boys 61.5-kg.
ONE Warriors Series winner Adonis Sevillino also came home with a silver in the 73.5-kg., together with Conan Adegawa in the 61.5-kg while Jared Almazan took home a silver in the 67.5-kg. and a bronze in the absolute division.
John Ira Barrientos of San Fernando Team Lakay won a bronze in the 61.5-kg., as Firoz Khan also snatched a bronze in the 85.5-kg.
The 2023 Pan Asian BJJFP Gi and No Gi International Open is the first and largest Jiu Jitsu International Competition in Asia since 2005 outside of the IBJJFP Asian Open. – Press release
