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The unknown faces behind the success: The Team Lakay black belt the world is yet to know
For many years, Team Lakay's success has been credited to their remarkable teamwork and desire to uplift each other. They work as a unit and move as one towards their goal of making it atop the seemingly unreachable mountain that is mixed martial arts.
The team has enjoyed its fair share of success both locally and internationally. The pinnacle of their storied journey came in 2018, when the humble gym in the mountains of Baguio City housed as many as five world titles in MMA.
It was a collective effort by the trainers, athletes, and training partners that the world got to see. But behind closed doors was another dimension to unravel as the unsung heroes of the stable quietly and tirelessly worked to help the team out of the public eye.
One of the unknown faces behind Team Lakay's success is Marilyn Tabareng, cousin of former ONE lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang. She acts as the team's therapist, soothing their aching body from training and preparing their physique for the rigorous competitions to come.
Tabareng came to the doors of Team Lakay mostly like everybody else; to learn MMA in hopes to live a healthy lifestyle. Her talent was later on discovered by head coach Mark Sangiao, who eventually tapped her services to be part of the team.
"I started as a mixed martial arts trainee in 2010 because I was inspired by my cousin Eduard Folayang and former UFC fighter Mark Eddiva. It was not until a year and a half after in training when I shared my skills in therapy," she shared.
"I come from a family of massage therapists, my mother is a reflexologist. I help with the fighters' therapy after an intense training session."
Tabareng turned out to be so good at what she does that there came a time when athletes would line up in the gym to receive her signature therapy - prompting her to sometimes skip phases of training.
"There came a time when I can no longer focus on my own training so the fighters would just arrange a schedule with me. I prioritize their therapy so sometimes I get late in training and I only get to do warm up and drills," Tabareng said.
"But it's all worth it because I know I am being able to help. Their achievement is my achievement. When they became champions all of the tired feeling went away. There even came a time when five fighters would line up in the gym."
What separates Tabareng from most therapists and what gives her an instant connection to Team Lakay is the fact that she is a martial artist herself. Tabareng tried her hands in taekwondo for the first time in 2013, only to find out she has a knack for the sport.
An athlete and sports enthusiast all her life, she soon found herself in local competition where she bagged a gold medal in her first try. She also went on to compete internationally, and came home with a silver and bronze medals for her effort.
"Coach Mark and Eduard's friend Danrey Velo is the owner of Bravehearts Taekwondo Gym. They invited me to join this national competition because they had no entry for that weight class," she recalled.
"When I fought I thankfully bagged gold even though it was my first time to compete in taekwondo. Sir Dan merely instructed me not wrestle and go to the ground."
Tabareng was promoted to black belt last year, making her the first member of Team Lakay to earn a black belt in martial arts. Her secret? Good ol' hard work, which happens to be the only way the team knows how to work.
"I am very happy with my promotion to black belt because it's a result of my hard work in training. I also can't deny that it was my training in Team Lakay that got me this far," she said.
"Our training in Team Lakay was no Joke before I got into taekwondo. My whole body would be sore and sometimes I can't even walk. There has to be focus and will power to achieve something you desire."
At the end of the day, Tabareng admits that she is not one to embrace publicity which was one of the reasons why she chose not to turn professional. She embraces her role wholeheartedly, and would rather be in the shadows of the team's success.
And while she would rather do her job in "secret", Tabareng has no qualms and is full of gratitude when her part is acknowledged by people beyond the walls of their gym. — BAP, GMA News
