By Jun Ray Navarres
Jhanlo Sangiao is fortunate to start his ONE Championship career together with his father, Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao.
Last December, “The Machine” toppled Indonesia’s “The Great King” Paul Lumihi at ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II via a submission in his debut and he attributed that victory to his fabled stable.
“My teammates, coaches, and dad helped me prepare for that match. They motivated me as well,” said Sangiao.
“And most importantly, it was my debut fight, and I needed to make an impression and live up to the hype.”
Following the feat, Sangiao experienced first-hand the monumental ONE X, the Singapore-based promotions historical 10th year anniversary.
He, alongside his father cornered a few of the Team Lakay warriors.
“ONE X was a monumental event, the biggest I have experienced. I also met prominent athletes who were all hungry to bring the victory home,” shared Sangiao.
“At this event, many famed athletes were on the fight card, and I said to myself, ‘Someday, I will be reading my name on a card like this, at a remarkable event like this.’”
The event inspired Sangiao to continue his impressive debut and he is ready for whoever the Home of Martial Arts sets in front of him.
“It is up to ONE on who they pick for me to face. As for me, anybody is fine. I’ll prepare for them and do my job,” he said.
Sangiao is also open to facing a fellow compatriot inside the Circle but for him meeting stablemate Stephen Loman is still far fetched as the latter is more probably scheduled for a title fight with John Lineker.
“The chance of me facing a fellow Filipino is not impossible. I have kababayans (countrymen) in my division, but this is different when we talk about fighters from my team,” the 19-year old warrior said.
“My teammates in Team Lakay are my brothers. I don’t think I’d be willing to face them inside the cage.”
Follow the writer on Twitter: @burnsports
