Marionil Capacite showed why he is among the junior surfers to watch out for in the country as he demolished his rivals to seize the diadem in the Surf in the City: The 4th Visayas Surfing Cup boys’ shortboard division at the Baybay Beach in Borongan City yesterday, Dec. 29.
Capacite hacked out the two best scores in the finals, drawing 5.00 points in his second try and 5.50 in his seventh to go 3.57 points clear of eventual second placer AJ Kyle Maliao and complete the dominant win.
The country’s 10th ranked boys’ shortboard surfer thus raised a trophy anew in his homebreak after being co-awarded as best local surfer as an 11-year-old in the Surf in the City – Philippine Surfing Championship Tour in 2019.
“Masaya po kasi nakuha ko na naman ‘yung championship dito sa Borongan,” said Capacite.
JM Factor completed the podium finish with his 6.83 total while John Reymond Sale, champion in the juniors’ longboard category, returned to the waters for his pet event but only managed to produce 5.87 points for fourth place.
The 15-year-old Capacite took advantage of the better wave conditions on finals day to showcase his superb skills on the board.
“Mas maganda ngayon kasi mas mahaba ‘yung alon ngayon kaysa kahapon. [Ang naging strategy ko ay] pumili ng magandang alon saka i-secure ‘yung mga rides,” said the standout grom, who churned out floaters, cutbacks and snaps in clinching the crown.
As he is beginning to carve his name in juniors surfing in the country, the local star admitted to feeling the pressure in the competition. But he chose to embrace it and simply enjoy instead.
“May kaunting pressure pa rin po kasi magagaling din po ang mga kalaban ko,” said Capacite, first runner-up in the same division of the Calicoan leg of the Pilipinas Surfing National Tour last September.
“Hindi po ako kinabahan (during the match). In-enjoy ko lang po ‘yung laro ko,” he added.
Capacite was joined by his mother as he prepared to head out to the waters for his heat. It was his mom who also welcomed him with a selfie after his victory ride onshore.
He is thankful for her support as he draws inspiration from his family in pursuing the sport that he loves.
“Suporta po siya (his mother) basta lang mag-aaral lang po. [Ang advice niya sa akin ay] mag-aral. Nandyan lang daw po ‘yung laro,” said Capacite.
This was the same tip he got from his surfing idol, Philmar Alipayo of Siargao, when he got the chance to talk to him in last year’s edition of the national tour held in the city where they were both competitors.
“Magaling po siya (Alipayo) saka mabait. [Ang advice niya sa akin ay] mag-aral po saka mag-practice,” said Capacite.
The Brgy. Bato phenom hopes to join all the legs of the Pilipinas Surfing National Tour next year to rack up points and fulfill his dream of climbing to the No. 1 spot in the rankings.
“Sana makumpleto ko ‘yung mga legs. [Pangarap kong] gumaling sa pagsu-surf saka mag-Top 1 sa juniors sa Pilipinas,” he said.
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