ILOILO CITY—Filipino world jetski champ Paul del Rosario saved the best for last to emerge the biggest winner recently in the kickoff of the 2012 JSAP National Jet Ski Series dubbed as the 40th Iloilo Paraw Regatta 2012 National Jet Ski 2nd Mayors Cup at the Breakthrough Resort here.
Del Rosario faced a tough must-win situation in the final moto after last year’s Rookie of the Year Raymund Romualdez upstaged him in the first race of the premiere Pro-Am Open class.
He did not just simply win the race but made his rivals and the crowd feel his mastery of the sport as he pulled away early and even passed two back markers before claiming the checkered flag in the Pro-Am division.
Actually, both Del Rosario and Romualdez ended with identical 47 points. But in the tie-break, Del Rosario’s better finish in the final moto was the deciding factor in winning the crown.
Mike Mangio took third place while Pong Lee and BJ Ang ended fourth and fifth respectively.
Del Rosario also ruled the Pro Am Stand Up class over top Cebu riders Ira Kiener and Butoy Gamallo.
Jam Mangio, the 2010 Female Rider of the Year, bested her male rivals in winning the Pro-AM Stock crown while first-timer Noy Mercado of Megaworld prevailed in the Executive class over Troy Divinagracia and Paul Tinsay.