Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte—Southeast Asian Games-bound John Mark Tokong didn’t disappoint as he rode the waves mightily to enter the 25th Siargao International Surfing Cup finals Wednesday at the Cloud 9 here.
The 23-year-old Tokong benefited from near-perfect condition of the waves to dominate Indonesian rival Oney Anwar in the quarterfinals, before dispatching Costa Rican Tomas King in the semifinals, 19:05–15.30, to advance to the finals for the second straight year.
“It was great and fun,’’ said Tokong, who won this World Surf League-sanctioned event in 2015 before finishing second to deposed champion Skip McCullough of the United States last year.
To win the $5,000 champion’s purse, Tokong must continue his brilliant form and repulse the challenge of the magnificent Noah Beschen of Hawaii.
Beschen ousted Australian Callum Robsom in the quarterfinals before putting an end to the fairy-tale campain of 15-year-old Indonesian bet Bronson Meydi, 12.25-9.80.
The event which lured the world’s leading surfer is organized by Siargao Representative Bingo Matugas, and the provincial government, headed by Governor Francisco ‘’Lalo’’ Matugas.
The event is also being held in honor of former General Luna Mayor Jaime Russilon, who is being credited as the father of Siargao surfing.
Globe and Sprite presented the event, which is supported by the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Sports Commission headed by Butch Ramirez.