Attao rules Tinian Open grappling event

Lorenzo Attao, bottom, uses the triangle-choke hold in forcing Perry Mundo to submission during the finals of Team Tinian’s Open Weight Submission Grappling Tournament 2: King of the Rock held last Nov. 4 at the Tinian Gym in San Jose. (Contributed Photo)

Lorenzo Attao emerged as the champion of Team Tinian’s Open Weight Submission Grappling Tournament 2: King of the Rock held last Nov. 4 at the Tinian Gym in San Jose, Tinian.

Attao, Perry Mundo, Nick Ayuyu, and Jesus Attao were the four remaining fighters after the knockout elimination round that featured 12 warriors. Lorenzo Attao faced Nick Ayuyu in the semifinals, while Mundo met Jesus Attao in the other Final Four matchup. Lorenzo Attao defeated Nick Ayuyu via rear-naked choke to move to the title bout, while Mundo followed the former to the finals after disposing of Jesus Attao via triangle choke.

In the finals, Lorenzo Attao employed the same aggressive skills that he used in ruling the flyweight division in the 2014 Art of War 9: Grappling and Submission against Mundo, who finished third in Tinian’s inaugural event last month. Attao, in the end, managed to sneak in a triangle choke and Mundo failed to free himself from the hold, allowing the former to win the $50 cash prize that was donated by Team Tinian members Ayuyu and Toram Borja.

Team Tinian coach Allen Manglona said that they decided to hold another grappling tournament after the successful staging of the inaugural event last Oct. 20.

“It was an awesome experience and a great way for these talented islanders to come together, compete, learn from each other, and improve their grappling skills,” Manglona, who won their inaugural event, told Saipan Tribune.

David Sandbergen, Napu Reyes, Kimo Adriano, Pacific Xtreme Combat veteran Peter Cruz Cepeda, Ton Reyes, Gracie Barra and Team Roninz’s Elden Dela Cruz Jr., and Juschery Castro joined Manglona, Lorenzo Attao, Mundo, Ayuyu, and Jesus Attao in the tournament. Lorenzo Attao, Dela Cruz, and Jesus Attao are from Saipan and traveled to Tinian by boat just to join the competition.

Rites of Passage 22: Rampage veteran Juschery Castro opened up the tournament when he challenged AOW veteran Jesus Attao. The 10-minute, no overtime match ended in a draw. Cepeda then defeated Ton Reyes via armbar submission in the second match, while AOW bronze medalist Dela Cruz beat Napu Reyes by RNC. Ayuyu topped Sandbergen also by RNC, while Lorenzo Attao bested Adriano via triangle choke. Mundo dispatched Manglona via guillotine choke, while the Cepeda-Dela Cruz match ended in another draw.

Up next for the group is the the Tinian Open Weight Submission Grappling Tournament 3: Taga Invitational scheduled later this month.

“It was a good learning experience for both Tinian and the visiting Saipan fighters. It was an excellent way to build a relationship with another gym from our neighboring island, learn new techniques, and improve our overall grappling skills,” added Manglona.