John Mark Tokong and three other local stars made the round of 32 of the World Surf League QS6000 Siargao International Surfing Cup off Cloud 9 in General Luna on Siargao Island.
Despite the break due to the small waves and current conditions,
Siargao’s very own Tokong, Eduardo Alciso, Shelamae Arjona and Nilbie Blancada survived the gruelling round of 64 to go deeper into the competition supported by the Philippine Sports Commission chaired by Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, General Luna Mayor Johnson Sajulga and Vice Mayor Romina Rusillon-Sajulga and Surigao Del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers.
Tokong, 29, conquered the island’s challenging waves with a precision ride to score 9.83 points in Heat 16 where Australia’s No. 1 junior surfer Dane Henry (11.83), Japan’sJin Suzuki (8.67), Indonesia’s I Made Ariyana (11.30) and Italy’s Diego Cordeiro (9.20) also made the grade.
Alciso, on the other hand, placed second behind Heat 4 leader Shohei Kato (12.40) of Japan with 8.00 to also advance reach the next round, which organizers had to postpone for Monday because of rains and a small current.
Also progressing were Australians Dom Thomas, Kyan Falvey, Ash Jenner, Harley Walters, Morgan Cibilic, Axel Curotta, Ben Lorentson, Lennix Smith, Ty Richardson, Tane Dobbyn, Eden Hasson and Tom Whitpaine.
The other Japanese in the next phase were Ikko Watanabe, John Azuchi, Yuma Nagasawa, Ikko Watanabe, Reo Inaba, Takumi Nakamura, Raiki Masuda, Roi Kanazawa, Shohei Kato and TenshiIwami.
In the women’s QS6000 round of 48, 24-year-old pro Sheila Mae Arjona tallied 6.43 in Heat 6 to move to the round of 32.
Blancada, one of the country’s finest bets, was seeded to the round of 32.
The other qualifiers were Japan’s Mirai Ikeda, Anon Matsuoka and Sara Wakita; Australia’s Isi Campbell, Paige Hareb, Freya Prumm, Tayla Brown and Ziggy McKenzie and Great Britain’s Sky Brown and Milla Coco Brown.
After Siargao, the Qualifying Series goes to Baler from November 17 to 23 and La Union from January 11 to 16 and 20 to 26.
