Banario repels Pang for hard-earned decision win

MANILA, Philippines — Adrian Pang patiently waited for the most opportune time to strike, as if living up to his “The Hunter” moniker.

But so did Team Lakay’s Honorio Banario.

The Baguio City native weathered a tough-as-nails performance by the visiting Aussie to earn a split-decision win in ONE Championship’s “Heroes of Honor” showpiece at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday night.

“This man is the greatest I’ve ever faced,” the Baguio City native said. “ He’s 40 and he’s still strong.”

Banario circled, darted in, and darted out of his foe’s range while he intermittently uncorked strikes. But Pang barely flinched.

The much more experienced Australian upped the ante in the second frame as if trying to match the Filipinos’ strikes. He snuck up the occasional taunts, too.

But that didn’t faze Banario, who was riding high on the momelntum of four straight victories, a frenzied partisan crowd and an earlier victory by stablemate Gina Iniong.

The comic lightweight went on to tag Pang with a couple of blows to the head as the Round Three clock expired.

Banario improved his streak to five while Pang has yet to win in his last four outings.

Kevin Belingon is the last remaining Team Lakay ward to fight as of this story’s posting time. A victory would also keep his roll in the promotion unblemished in five meetings.