Tokong ‘no pressure’ carrying PH bid in Siargao International Surfing Cup

SIARGAO—Philippine team stalwart John Mark Tokong and two other Filipino bets will try to lift the flag proud flying as they compete in the 25th Siargao International Surfing Cup Monday at the world-famous Cloud 9 here.

The 23-year-old, sun-baked Tokong, who will see action in the Southeast Asian Games surfing competitions in La Union in December, needs to finish in the Top 2 of his heat to assure himself of safe passage in the next round of the event which is also a way to promote sustainable tourism and highlight Siargao as one of the best surfing destinations in the world.

“No pressure,” said the jolly Tokong, a native of the town of General Luna, where Cloud 9 is located. “Besides, I’m not the only one left for the Philippines.”

Christian Araquil and Jay-r Esquivel will also try their luck in their respective heats of this annual tournament which drew the world’s leading surfers.

PJ Alipayo, Carlito Nogralo, Kent Brian Solloso and Neil Sanchez all failed to advance.

Some of those who advanced before the cancellation of the heats due to the irregularity of the waves were Argentina’s Santiago Muniz, Japan’s Jin Suzuki, Australians Callum Robson and Samson Coulter, New Zealand’s Elliot Paerate-Reed and Hawaii’s Noah Beschen.

The event is sanctioned QS 1500 by the World Surf League Asia.