CEBUANA teen Giuliana Angeli Dinopol finished first in the short program of the advanced novice girls’ event of the two-day 2024 Philippine National Figure Skating Championships.
The 14-year-old Dinopol was way ahead with 23.56 points, besting Celine Tansipek of Quezon City and Indonesian Pearl Huang during the meet which got going on Thursday at the SM Skating Rink of Mall of Asia.
“I did good. I’m surprised. This is my first time doing this (routine) in the short program,” said Dinopol, who impressed the judges with her double flip and double toe loop moves.
The tournament, according to Philippine Ice Skating Union (PHSU) lPresident Nikki Cheng, will serve as selection of skaters who will compete in three international meets next year — the 2025 Asian Winter Games set in February next year in Harbin, China, the Thailand Open Trophy in May and the 2025 Four Continents meet in Seoul, Korea.
Coached by Frankin Masayon and Dale Feliciano, the Liloan native Dinopol was more than a point ahead of Tansipek (22.51) when she skated to the tune of the Japanese version of theme music of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”
Meanwhhile, Fil-Americans Maxine Marie Bautista and Cathryn Limketkai upstaged defending champion Sofia Lexi Jacqueline Frank in the short program of the senior women’s action.
The 23-year-old Bautista, from River Grove, Illinois, came up with a high score of 50.03, with Winchester, Massachusetts-based Limketkai behind with 43.46 points.
Frank, who is seeking to earn her third straight crown, was in third at 41.53 points.
The 19-year-old Frank, a Filipino-American standout from Los Angeles, is one of six entries seeking podium finishes as she tries to do better in the free skating event.
