Team Lakay zeroes foes in PXC 26

BAGUIO fighters once again showed their might despite the lack of height in the Pacific X-Treme Combat 26 event at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila in Pasay City during the weekend.

Jasor Ablasi, Geje Eustaquio, and Crisanto Pitpitunge came up with big victories to continue the winning streak of the Summer Capital-based Team Lakay, still undoubtedly the country’s best mix martial arts group.

Bantamweight Ablasi scored a unanimous victory against Kyle Aguon despite a shorter reach and the lack of height.

Ablasi, shorter by five inches against the five-foot-nine Aguon, had trouble sizing up his taller opponent but nonetheless impressed the judges, all of them scoring the fight at 29-28.

“I waited for him [Aguon] to come and I hit him very hard,” Ablasi said as quoted in a national daily, who had Aguon on a guillotine choke in the first round.

Estaquio knocked out cold Rogelito Plomeda at the 3:50 mark of round number two in their encounter while Pitpitunge seemed to have lady luck on his side after Guam’s Alex Castro incurred an injury and failed to continue after the opening round.

Estaquio in his bout against Plomeda fired a blistering outside low kick, which left the soft-spoken Plomeda, a former professional boxer of the renowned ALA boxing stable, crippling in pain.

Pitpitunge on the other hand, was saved by the bell in the opening round as Castro, the former lightweight titleholder, pummeled the helpless Filipino with heavy blows.

The five-foot-six Pitpitunge, who made a bad move by turning his back while Castro was in full mount, barely survived the round if it wasn’t for the bell, bleeding profusely after obtaining a cut just above his right eye.

The three fighters, together with coach Mark Sangiao is expected to return to the Summer Capital Wednesday morning together with Universal Reality Combat Championship lightweight champion Honorio Banario. (Roderick Osis)

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on August 24, 2011.