One Championship: Team Lakay channel Manny Pacquiao as Filipino brotherhood targets Manila clean sweep
- Team Lakay hope to inspire the people of the Philippines in the same way as legendary boxing icon at One’s monumental Manila event on Friday night
- ‘To our Filipino countrymen, we are there to get the wins and we need you to cheer for us’
When Team Lakay’s stable of Filipino fighters take to the ring on Friday for One Championship’s blockbuster “Dawn of Heroes” show in Manila, they’ll be feeding off a familiar source of inspiration.
“I know the hearts of Filipinos,” Lakay coach Mark Sangiao told the Post. “Whenever a Filipino fights, everyone supports them. It’s our pleasure. Like if Manny Pacquiao has a fight, there is zero crime during that day.
“That’s what we want, to inspire the Filipino people, inspire the world, and try to prove that martial arts is not violence. This is our way to please people, and to really show them the authentic meaning of martial arts, the values you can teach to people.”
The sentiments of Coach Mark, as he’s fondly referred to by his team, were echoed by One Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
“Team Lakay is not only the Philippines greatest mixed martial arts team in history, but good role models who represent the Filipino warrior spirit. But they also represent the Filipino kindness and integrity,” Chatri said.