The Philippines placed eighth in the recent 2024 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Longboard Championships at the shores of El Sunzal in El Salvador.
Team Philippines, behind Rogelio Esquievel Jr., Roger Casogay, Daisy Valdez and Ashlee Lopez, picked up a total of 1648 points from their performance in the tournament that drew 39 countries.
Hawaii won the team honors with 2820 points, ahead of Japan and France, which was second and third with 2755 and 2318 points, respectively.
The La Union-based Esquievel Jr. went on to finish seventh place overall, the highest placed Filipino in the men’s division with 555 points.
After bowing out in the fourth round, Esquievel Jr. went as far as the ninth in the repechage, where he failed to catch a four-foot wave to ride on, conditions which the waters off El Sunzal are known for.
“Grabe ang competition na hinarap nila. Nandoon lahat ng nagme-medal sa world, from USA, Japan, France, Brazil,” said Team Philippines’ coach Wilmar Siargao following a visit to the offices of the Philippine Sports Commission.
Eequivel Jr.’s rival in the repechage, 2018 world champion Kai Sallas won his second team championship for Hawaii, after settling for the individual bronze medal in the finals with 17.31 points.
“Sobrang saya. Sobrang ganda ng experience. Nandu’n lahat ng world champions sa El Salvador,” said Esquievel.
Lopez and Valdez were tied at 29th place in the women’s side.
Hawaiian Honolua Blomfield won her first women’s ISA World Championship as she took the individual bronze.
Rachael Tilly claimed the individual women’s gold, with Natsumi Takai of Japan in second.