Team Lakay fighters showed they are more than just a strike team after nearly dominating the 2023 ADCC Philippine International Open, where some of the finest grapplers from across the nation saw action.
Now an affiliate of the famed Lotus Club BJJ, Team Lakay emerged as a dominant force, securing a remarkable second place finish in the overall standings besting 22 other teams who competed during the weekend.
Team Lakay is the first and only club in the country affiliated with Lotus Club BJJ.
In the men’s adult intermediate under 83-kilogram division, it was Jaybe Ban-eg who climbed to the top of the podium, seizing 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.
In the men’s adult intermediate under 70-kg. category, Jhanlo Sangiao’s remarkable performance led him in securing the gold medal, solidifying 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 under 76-kg. division, where he claimed the gold medal.
Alvarez and Sangiao are fresh from their cross-training trip in Thailand together with Stephen Loman, Carlo Von Bumina-ang, Jean Claude Saclag, and coach Mark Sangiao.
The older 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. – Press release
