PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Three-time Southeast Asian Games champion Jean Claude Saclag hopes to see more fighters from Team Lakay don the national colors in major international competitions.
The 28-year-old kickboxer from Kalinga said his teammates at Team Lakay have what it takes to boost the national squad and help it claim glory in various international events.
Saclag beat hometown bet Ran Sakim in the men’s low kick 63.5-kilogram event before a noisy crowd at the Elephant Hall of the Morodok Techo National Sports Complex on Monday.
Prior to that, Saclag defeated Dimitri Kyttanasilalack of Laos, 3-0, in the semifinals on the way to defending the titles he captured back to back in the Hanoi Games last year and in the 2019 edition in Manila.
He, however, stressed that members of noted mixed martial arts club, Team Lakay, could definitely help them in their quest for more medals.
“I can’t recall all of the new kids in Team Lakay but I am sure they have potential as well,” Saclag said. “All of them have bright futures.”
Aside from Saclag, other Team Lakay fighters who have secured SEA Gamesa medals are Jomar Balangui (men’s 57-kg low kick bronze), Jenelyn Olsim (kun khmer women’s 54-kg bronze) and Honorio Banario (men’s 71-kg low kick bronze.
Another Team Lakay member in Jeremy Pacatiw, meanwhile, is in the gold medal match of the men’s K1-57-kg event against Vietnamese fighter Nguyen Hoang.
Saclag said he just kept on fighting amid the cheers and jeers of the Cambodian crowd during their gold medal match.
“That’s nothing. They can’t help and get into the ring,” Saclag said.
“This isn’t the first time I played with opponent’s home crowd cheering against me.”
