A GROUP of talented youngsters aged 14 to 22 have put the Philippines on the map in the world of water sports with a strong showing at the Waterjet World Cup 2024.
The Philippine delegation bagged several honors at the global jetski competition in Pattaya, Thailand, last month, with all seven Filipinos putting up a respectable finish in their respective categories.
Great potential
National coach BJ Ang lauded the feat, which he said underscored the country's great potential in the waterjet sport.
“We are already a contender on the global stage, and Filipinos are respected in competitions — some are even intimidated by Filipinos,” Ang told SPIN.ph. “We have the luxury of practicing the sport because there’s so much water here. Other countries have to train in canals, rivers, or even go abroad.”
Among the notable performers were 14-year-old Vito Tinio, who became world No. 4 in the Junior 13-15 Spark Stock category; Cody Lorenzo Pontino, the world champion in Novice Ski Stock; and Angelo Ventus, who secured third place in the Novice Runabout Stock and fourth place in the Novice 1100.
Sisters Kristine and Kayla Mercado also made their mark, winning first and second place in Women Runabout 1100 Stock, respectively.
Meanwhile, pro jetski athlete Marchael Louie Buhisan claimed third place in the Pro-Am 1100 Open, while Jesse Arcilla, one of the youngest stars in the group, finished 9th in her first Women Runabout 1100 Stock event.
Ventus later shared his 'exhilirating' experience:
“The global stage is exhilarating but also incredibly demanding. The key is to adapt to different courses and stay mentally strong.”
With the group’s impressive performance, Ang — a former national athlete himself in jetski — hopes to bring more attention to the sport and anticipates a new wave of talents taking up the sport.
“Kids as young as 12 or 13 can start,” he said. “The innate resilience and determination of Filipinos can be a huge asset in excelling in this field.”
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