WRESTLING COACH: TEAM LAKAY FIGHTERS WILL BEAT OPPONENTS (from ONE FC official press release, 11/29/13)

 Here's GMA News featuring interviews with Team Lakay fighters Honorio Banario and Kevin Belingon, along with their wrestling coach Ali Heydarabadi:

            Iranian wrestling coach Ali Heydarabadi yesterday expressed confidence Team Lakay mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters have strong chances of beating their opponents as a result of their intensive wrestling training.

            “They have trained for five months on grappling and other wrestling techniques,” Heydarabadi said in an interview during the well-attended open workout conducted by ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) at the Resorts World Manila for some of the MMA fighters.

            Ten thrilling matches will be presented during ONE FC: Moment of Truth at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena on Dec. 6 starting at 7 p.m., with the Filipino MMA strikers figuring in five challenging bouts.

            Iranian wrestler Heydarabadi was hired by Team Lakay after the Filipino fighters’ total shutout in last May’s ONE FC event at the MOA Arena, which many blamed for their lack of wrestling skills.

            He said the Team Lakay fighters have improved a lot on their wrestling skills which would neatly complement their wushu background.

            “Wushu wrestling is different. In our training, I taught them how to take down and defense takedown and other techniques,” he added.

            Heydarabadi said it was a short training period but the fighters have developed a lot. “I believe they are better the last time.”

            Among the Team Lakay fighters he trained were Honorio “The Rock” Banario, who will figure in the main event as he tries to regain the ONE FC Featherweight championship from tormentor Japanese Koji Oishi; Kevin Belingon, who will face undefeated Spaniard David Aranda Santacana; and Eduard Folayang, who will battle seasoned Dutch-Indonesian striker Vincent Latoel.

“I will get back my belt. I have trained double time. I have been waiting for this opportunity. Our wrestling coach has taught us new techniques,” Banario himself said in an interview after the open workout.

            He also stressed that Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao’s victory last Sunday against Mexican-American Brandon Rios has inspired him and the other Team Lakay fighters.

            “We are motivated by Pacquiao’s victory. I know his triumph will pull us up and enable us to score wins against our opponents,” said.

            Belingon said, “Our training and conditioning is good this time. We learn many wrestling techniques,” he said.

            He said he is not in any way intimidated by the perfect record of his opponent. “I don’t care about his record. I will just focus on my game plan.”

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3rd Annual Philippines Wrestling Showcase (Vallejo, California, USA; 09.26.2013)

The following is the full report, with photos, submitted by Springstowne Wildcats coach Jason Guiducci:

Middle School Showcase Participants

The 3^rd Annual Philippines Wrestling Showcase in Vallejo, CA, USA saw some fantastic grappling occur on September 26, 2013. A bit of WAP history even came to light linking a current wrestler to an amazing figure of the WAP’s past.

The middle school folkstyle division was a highly spirited contest, thanks in part to an all-time high number of participants with 56. The home team host Springstowne Wildcat Wrestling Academy brought 54 competitors to the event, which saw Lady Wildcats Joanne Cabanlit and Jasmine Capiral become the event’s 1^st 3-year participants. The pair wrestled at the Inaugural event in 2011 and each subsequent one since. Nearby Benicia Middle School also brought two highly skilled wrestlers in Tara and Basil Othman, who went a combined 5-1 on the day.

Jasmine Capiral and Joanne Cabanlit Became The 1^st 3-Year Middle School Participants

The High School/Open saw a dip in the number of participants with only 11 competitors registered for the event, but the competition was fierce throughout including an amazing storyline as the exclamation point to a terrific evening

Co-Director Jeremiah Esguerra and newly coined “Mr. Showcase” extended his All-Time Record Showcase win total to 5 in 3 years, by scoring both Freestyle and Greco wins vs the physically imposing Damien Reyes. On the girl’s side, the crowd was treated to a battle of the titans between Ricki Liang and Shelly Avelino, two of the all-time greats from the Springstowne program. The two were deadlocked 4-4 at the end of the 1^st period, before Liang utilized her experience as a two-time member of USA Wrestling’s Team California to pull out the win.

The most intriguing story of the night was Brandon Basa, who traveled close to 200 miles from Carson City, Nevada to compete in the HS/Open. His grandfather was Jose Ma Basa III, who was appointed by President Marcos to train and prepare Philippine wrestlers to compete at an event in Edmonton, Canada in the 1970’s. The family even had a vintage WAP warm up top on hand. (See Pics Below)

President Marcos @ left ~ Jose Ma Basa III in black suit ~ WAP wrestlers @ right

A Vintage WAP Warmup Jacket Courtesy Of The Basa Family

Brandon lived true to the family’s wrestling heritage as he scored 2 freestyle wins and one Greco win on the night.

Brandon Basa With Event Directors Jeremiah Esguerra, Julie Gonzalez and Jason A. Guiducci

Following up last year’s success of the singlet donation program, this year’s Showcase will be donating 30 singlets to be split amongst three clubs identified by WAP President Albert Balde. The recipients will be Baguio, Ifugao and Antique. Pictured below are a number of Springstowne Wildcats holding the singlets.

3^rd Annual Philippines Wrestling Showcase Results:

Middle School Folkstyle

• Maiya Alemania(Springstowne) defeated Kaitlin Cuevas (Springstowne)
• Trinity Jade Castillo (Springstowne) defeated Arianna Perez (Springstowne)
• Miliani Rose Jimenez-Diolanto (Springstowne) pinned Elysia Tulabut (Springstowne)
• Meriel Ferrer (Springstowne) defeated Marcelina Valmonte (Springstowne)
• Precious Bautista (Springstowne) pinned Angel Mendoza (Springstowne)
• Alyssa Geronimo (Springstowne) defeated Shailenne Cabuloy (Springstowne)
• Basil Othman (Benicia) pinned Jhaycen Quinones (Springstowne)
• Tara Othman (Benicia) defeated Justin Pascua (Springstowne)
• Rylee Cruz-Smith (Springstowne) pinned Angela Abuda (Springstowne)
• Hazel Solar (Springstowne) defeated Samantha Dollete (Springstowne)
• Kiara Valle (Springstowne) defeated Jasmen Caceres (Springstowne)
• Lillian Parungao (Springstowne) pinned Jacqueline Nebres (Springstowne)
• Chentelle Wise (Springstowne) pinned Fiona Pasion (Springstowne)
• Elisabeth Franco (Springstowne) defeated Joanne Cabanlit (Springstowne)
• Mark Ryan Jimenez-Diolanto (Springstowne) defeated Basil Othman (Benicia)
• Tara Othman (Benicia) defeated Bianca Holman (Springstowne)
• Leika Lopez (Springstowne) defeated Carmille Lobusta (Springstowne)
• Caesha Gemo (Springstowne) defeated Kera Arzadon (Springstowne)
• Ariana Danao (Springstowne) defeated Nicole Ausa (Springstowne)
• Kaelin Pasibe (Springstowne) pinned Rachel Bacnotan (Springstowne)
• CJ Fernandez (Springstowne) defeated AJ Miranda (Springstowne)
• Esai Contreras (Springstowne) defeated Christian Carino (Springstowne)
• Mark Deguzman (Springstowne) defeated CJ Carino (Springstowne)
• Basil Othman (Benicia) pinned Gerrell Castro (Springstowne)
• Tara Othman (Benicia) defeated Tatiana Boyd (Springstowne)

• Christian Carino (Springstowne) defeated AJ de Vera (Springstowne)
• Daphne Rio (Springstowne) pinned Rachel Rio (Springstowne)

• Jared Perez (Springstowne) wins unopposed
• Marjorie Soy (Springstowne) pinned Aileen Torralba (Springstowne)
• Ian Hadlocon (Springstowne) pinned De Andric Sarmiento (Springstowne)
• Jasmine Capiral (Springstowne) pinned Ariana Danao (Springstowne)
• Paige Hardgen (Springstowne) defeated Tatiana Boyd (Springstowne)

HS/Open Freestyle

• Brandon Basa (Carson City) pinned Kyle Creech (Benicia)
• Jeremiah Esguerra (American Canyon) defeated Damien Reyes (American Canyon)
• Jobel Cabigting (Vallejo) pinned Mason Boutain (Vallejo)
• Marlon Cereca (Vallejo) pinned Michael Lim (Daly City)
• Ricki Liang (Vallejo) defeated Shelly Avelino (Vallejo)
• Brandon Basa (Carson City) pinned Derek Reyes (Vallejo)

HS/Open Greco

• Jeremiah Esguerra (American Canyon) defeated Damien Reyes (American Canyon)
• Jobel Cabigting (Vallejo) defeated Marlon Cereca (Vallejo)
• Brandon Basa (Carson City) pinned Kyle Creech (Benicia)

For More Information About The Philippines Wrestling Showcase Host Organization ...
Visit Them Here On The Web!

This blog is sponsored by Limitado

and S.P.R.A.W.L.-MMA

3rd floor JN Building, 657 EDSA corner Monte De Piedad Street, Barangay Immaculate Concepcion, Cubao, Quezon City

Contact Number:             0910-440-8035      ;             0907-302-0384      ;            0927-703-6912