Previous Story
10 Trench Tech warriors to compete in Asian Open
Clinton Dela Cruz, back, choke-holds Vince Masga during a BJJ training session at the Trench Tech Gym in Garapan. Masga, Dela Cruz, and eight other Trench Tech warriors are heading to Japan in September to compete in the 2018 Asian IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship. (Jon Perez)
Team Trench Tech Purebred Saipan will be sending 10 fighters to the 2018 Asian IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship that will be held in Japan in September.
Dubbed as the “Asian Open,” the tournament is sanctioned by the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation and is one of the most prestigious and biggest events not only in Japan, but also around the Pacific region. The competition will run from Sept. 7 to 9 at the Tokyo Budo-Kan in Tokyo.
Team Trench Tech Purebred Saipan, which will be attached to Guam’s Purebred BJJ Team, will have its founder Cuki Alvarez joining the Brown Belt Masters 3 division contest (146 lbs). Others entered in the three-day tournament are Clinton Dela Cruz, Shane “Pikaboo Alvarez, Vince “The Clinch” Masga, Ken Tanzawa, Paulo Sangalang, Jeffery Garcia, Giovanni Taitingfong, Kier Agda, and Mark “The Dark” Nuique.
Dela Cruz will vie for the medals in the Black Melt Masters 1 146 lbs; Pikaboo and Masga in the adult male Purple Belt 146 lbs division; Tanzawa in the Purple Belt 176 lbs; Sangalang and Garcia in the Blue Belt 146 lbs; Taitingfong in the Blue Belt 141 lbs; Agda in the White Belt 200lbs; and Nuique in the White Belt 146 lbs.
Taitingfong, Agda, and Sangalang also competed in the 2018 Marianas Open Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Tournament in Guam in April and brought home medals. Taitingfong beat his Guam foe in the finals of the Blue Belt, 131-145-lb division, while Agda and Sangalang both finished third in their respective categories.
After winning in Guam, the Trench Tech warriors resumed training on Saipan to get ready for the much tougher competition in Japan.
“The team has been training hard and consistently in preparation for this event, and we are steadfast in accomplishing our mission to proudly represent the CNMI and bring medals home. We are excited and proud to represent our islands,” Alvarez said.
With Cuki and company preparing for the tournament in Japan, Trench Tech has decided to push back the Rites of Passage 24: Ragin’ Rumble. ROP 24, which was originally scheduled for next month, has been moved to October with Trench Trench planning on special prizes and promotions for fight fans.
