Selga wins 2 wakeboard titles

DAVAO CITY'S Mikee Selga captured two titles in the Monster Energy Drink Philippine Qualifier Series (PQS) 2012 2nd leg held Saturday at the Deca Davao Wakepark in Barangay Tacunan, Mintal.

Coming off a win in the first leg held at Lago de Oro in Calatagan, Batangas recently, Selga added another feather in the cap by emerging champion in the junior girls’ wakeboard category. Selga scored a total of 33.33 points to defeat Kelsey Albano who placed second after scoring 27.33.

The young Dabawenya also copped the junior women's open wakeskate title after tallying 15 points in the final round.

Celina Cembrano of Davao City scored 13.33 to place second.

Selga she is very happy to have won two titles as she has prepared well for the event. She is now practicing every weekends in preparation for the third leg slated on October 20 at Deca Clark Wakepark.

Cembrano redeemed herself by winning the junior ladies wakeboard title at the expense of Angela Clores and Isabel Gomez who placed second and third, respectively.

Dabawenyos Zech and Joshua Stephenson shared the limelight by winning titles in their respective divisions. Zech crowned himself champion in the men's open wakeboard category by scoring 71.67.

Zech bested Carlo dela Torre (70) and Albert Lehman (64.67), who settled with runner-up honors.

Joshua, meanwhile, annexed the junior men's open wakeskate crown by scoring 51.67 after a clean run in the finals. He defeated Angelo Linao (24) and Carlo Beltran (20), who took the next two spots.

Veteran rider Samantha Bermudez of Team Stoked Inc., on the other hand, scored 41 points to seize the women's open wakeboard title over Dre Taniangco (35.44) and Alex Andrada (25.33).

But Bermudez bowed to Swedish native Susan Larsson, who captured the women's open wakeskate crown after scoring 31.67 in the final round. Bermudez tallied 20.33 to settle for second placed while Andrada placed third with 15 points.

In the masters men's wakeskate category, Manila's Moe Gomez finished with 57 points to pocket the title over Davao City's Obi Cembrano (56) and Christian Joson (48.67).

JV Taniangco bagged the masters men's wakeboard title while Brenda Bagsik took home the crown in the distaff side.

Jose Antonio Fernandez, for his part, won the junior boys wakeboard title over Franco Carabuena and Don Moody who placed second and third, respectively.

The winners in each event also earned points that will serve as basis for selection in the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) Wakeboard Worlds 2012 slated on November 4 to 11 at the Deca Clark Wakepark.

Wakeboard and Waterski Association of the Philippines (WWASP) chairperson Ju Borromeo, encouraged more Davao riders to join the third leg of PQS since it will be their chance to represent the country in the upcoming international stint.

"Davao City has a lot of talent to offer in the likes of Mikee and the Stephenson brothers. I believe with more exposure and practice they could probably have the chance to bring glory to the Philippines in the upcoming international competition," Borromeo said.

Deca Davao Wakepark and Deca Clark Wakepark manager Mike Hudson, meanwhile, said the second leg was a big success as it attracted more riders than the previous leg.

Hudson then encouraged more beginners to learn the sport in Deca Davao Wakepark as it is one of the emerging watersports not only in the country but in the world as well.