Simmers, Medina make history as first PH Pro champions

CAITLIN Simmers and Gabriel Medina claimed the women’s and men’s titles, respectively, in the first-ever World Surf League Championship Tour Philippines Pro at Cloud 9 on Tuesday in Siargao. Simmers, the American world No. 6, defeated Australia’s Isabella Nichols, 12.00-10.77, in the women’s final to become the first women’s champion of the Philippine leg. Simmers secured her place in the championship round after beating world No. 2 Carissa Moore in the semifinals. Moore’s campaign came to an end after she received an Interference Penalty 2, which wiped out the wave where the violation occurred and her second scoring wave. Nichols reached the final after defeating fellow Australian Tyler Wright in the other semifinal but fell short against Simmers in the title match. The prestigious competition is presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), with the support of Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers, General Luna Mayor Johnson Sajulga and Vice Mayor Romina Sajulga. In the men’s final, Brazilian world No. 4 Gabriel Medina defeated Australian Jack Robinson to claim the inaugural men’s crown, finishing with 16.93 points against Robinson’s 14.50. Medina built his winning score with a 9.43 on his opening wave and a 7.50 on his second. Robinson, ranked No. 12 in the world, posted an 8.23 and a 6.27 but settled...