Hometown bets Marama Tokong and Jayuard Alciso gave the home crowd something to cheer about but saw their campaigns come to an end in the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour Philippines Pro at Cloud 9 on Monday morning.
Tokong bowed to Australian world No. 7 Ethan Ewing, while Alciso fell to familiar rival Kanoa Igarashi of Japan.
Fresh off a memorable victory in his previous heat, Tokong, the Siargao native known as the “King of Cloud 9,” looked to sustain his momentum but faced a tough challenge against Ewing.
Tokong scored 11.54 points, falling short of Ewing’s 14.50 as the Australian advanced to the next round of the prestigious event presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), with the support of Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers, General Luna Mayor Johnson Sajulga, and Vice Mayor Romina Sajulga.
Despite the loss, Tokong cherished the experience of competing against one of the surfers he had idolized for years.
The Filipino admitted that he felt surprisingly comfortable sharing the lineup with Ewing, whom he considers one of his idols. He was also delighted to discover the Australian’s friendly personality outside competition.
“I got my hand. I was so comfortable, like when I was starting against this guy. He’s one of my idols. And I can’t believe he’s kind of like a friend. He’s very nice, and he knows what he’s doing,” said Tokong.
Beyond the competition, the event also gave Tokong an opportunity to reflect on how far Siargao has come, with surfing helping put the island on the map and attract visitors from around the world.
As the island continues to draw tourists, Tokong hopes the strong sense of community and cooperation among residents and local businesses will endure.
“This island is so beautiful. Before, back then, all the travelers here, I was a surfer, and now there are so many people who know this place because of the waves, the island and especially the community here in Siargao. It’s so special, and this is why I love our island because the community is so good. The business community here on the island is really like we’re helping each other, and this is how important it is for me. I just wish that we’re going to keep going like this,” added Tokong.
(C) PSC
Alciso, meanwhile, nearly mounted a late comeback against Igarashi but ran out of time to turn the tide. The Asian Games bronze medalist managed just 4.17 points on his final wave as the 30-minute heat came to a close, leaving him well short of Igarashi’s 12.90.
Igarashi built his winning total with a 6.67 on his third wave and a 6.23 on his fourth, keeping Alciso at bay to secure his place in the next round.
The Asian Games gold medalist had nothing but praise for Alciso, whom he faced at last month’s Asian Games, describing the Filipino as a surfer with tremendous potential.
“He’s such an amazing surfer. I was competing with him in the Asian Games last month and he’s such an amazing talent and he had such a good heat yesterday,” said Igarashi.
The event is also supported by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and NEA/SIARELCO.
Surfers who fail to advance are guaranteed US$13,000 (approximately P830,000), while the eventual champion will take home US$80,000 (approximately P5.1 million).
Fans can catch the competition live on the One Sports YouTube channel and Cignal Play.
