Longboarders from Visayas a step closer to making PH team

Charlie Guitering from Siquijor won the men’s open title in the downhill longboarding race in Dumanjug. | Contributed photo

(Updated) Cebu City, Philippines— Longboarders from the Visayas have a chance to make it to the Philippine team that will be competing in the Southeast Asian Games the country will be hosting later this year. 

This developed after the staging of the Downhill Longboarding Race 2019 in Dumanjug town, southwestern Cebu last April 9 and 10, 2019.  

Joseph Caño Falcone, one of the organizers of the race, told Cebu Daily News Digital that this year’s race serves as the Visayas qualifiers for the Philippine longboarding team for the biennial meet. 

“This year’s race will help us determine who among these best players should race to make it to the Philippine team” he added. 

Cebuana Jessa Siege won the women’s crown while Charlie Guitering from Siquijor topped the men’s race. Both lead a group of qualifiers who will compete against the Luzon and Mindanao qualifiers in August to determine the six who will be named into the Philippine team.

The others who made it were John Ganzan, Charles Reuyan, Mark Garde, Prince Marquez, John Escarda, Cyril Silawan, Franz Solasco, John Cabaries, and Zaheed Kaba.

In the women’s side, qualifers are Karla Robelo, Julie Gabas, Danielyn Camocamo, Maeghan Villanueva, and Aubrey Bejec.

Falcone believes the Visayas qualifiers have a good chance of making it. 

“We (Philippines) are considered as one of the powerhouses when it comes to longboarding and many players from the Visayas have been competing and showing their talents and skills in this sport,” he said.

Falcone said that the sport is becoming known here in Cebu and in the Philippines and it showed during the race.  

A total of 40 longboarders participated in the  downhill race. 

“The future of downhill skateboard in our country is very bright, especially to the young generation. This sports don’t need height to be on the top. Filipinos are very creative and innovative give them any kind of toys or tolls to play after a couple of days the will be good at it and even more,” Falcone said.

Falcone added that the sport can also help  the youth  stay away from illegal drugs.

“This kind of sport gives youngsters a dream and focus and forget about drugs because extreme sports is a natural high. So who needs artificial high when we have natural high?” said Falcone. 

Dumanjug has been the home for longboarding competitions in Cebu since 2012 because of its well paved roads and the 21 downhill turns from barangay Bulak down to barangay Manlapay. /bmjo