Team Lakay dominates kickboxing nationals

Team Lakay ruled the National Kickboxing Championships. Ivan Saldajeno

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASAY—Team Lakay showed why it remains the top kickboxing stable in the country after racking up a bunch of medals in the National Kickboxing Championships at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

Led by mixed martial arts stars Danny Kingad, Honorio Banario, Jeremy Pacatiw, and Jenelyn Olsim, the Baguio-based squad, led by national kickboxing coach Mark Sangiao, racked up 14 golds, two silvers, and three bronzes at the conclusion of the three-day event on Friday night.

Olsim knocked out fellow Baguio native Carrol Panganiban of Nak Muay Camp to capture the gold in the women's 60-kilogram full-contact final.

Kingad, on the other hand, edged another Nak Muay Camp standout in Vhiko Alhado in the gold medal match of the men's 63.5-kilogram full contact division.

Banario then made quick work of Dragon Knights Martial Arts' Ejay Pestano to capture the men's 71-kilogram low kick gold.

Pacatiw, meanwhile, defeated King's Sword ABKA Davao's John Galvan to rule the men's 71-kilogram full contact division.

The championship wins of Olsim, Kingad, and Pacatiw will give them a huge morale boost as they shift to mixed martial arts for ONE 164 on Dec. 3 at the nearby SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Team Lakay then scored 1-2 finishes in the women's 56-kilogram and 60-kilogram low-kick categories.

Mary Carluen and Jerlyn Kingad took the gold and silver, respectively, in the 56-kilogram group, while Gina Araos announced her return to competitive martial arts by getting the better end of the 1-2 finish with Zephania Ngaya in the 60-kilogram division.

Also winning it all for Lakay were Daryl Chulipas (men's 51-kilogram full contact), Carlo Buminaang (men's 67-kilogram full contact), Jomar Balangui (men's 57-kilogram low kick), Jean-Claude Saclag (men's 63.5-kilogram low kick), Carlos Alvarez (men's 67-kilogram low kick), Claudine Veloso (women's 52-kilogram low kick), Lecko Gammonac (men's 57-kilogram kick light), and Emmanuel Cantores (men's 63-kilogram kick light).

Settling for the bronze were Estrada Donga-As (men's 54-kilogram full contact), Ezra Saclag (men's 57-kilogram full contact), and Urbano De La Pena (men's 60-kilogram full contact).