Del Rosario rules King’s Cup

Two-time national jetski champion Paul del Rosario made the country proud anew when he bagged the crown in the 2002 King’s Cup Jet Ski Championship last month in Pattaya, Thailand.

Del Rosario, also a two-time finalist of the most prestigious Skat Trak World Jet Ski Finals in Arizona, thrilled the crowd with his amazing rally, passing one rider after another to capture the Pro-Am Wave Blaster class.

Moreover, he did it using his 1996 wave blaster against the much faster new wave models used by his rivals.

"To compete against the best in Southeast Asia already gives me the jitters. And I felt more pressure getting to my nerves when I saw them with newer and faster wave blasters up against my machine which we last used in a competitive race in 1996," related Del Rosario.

"I guess I was just lucky. I just ignored the pressure and stayed focus and determined to win, and I’m just happy to have surpassed the challenge and deliver this honor to our country," he added.

Del Rosario’s win saved the RP-JSAP team from being shattered in this event after Carlo Baltao and sister Wacky del Rosario ended unluckily in their respective events.

Paul was also unlucky in the Pro-Am Ski class where he suffered mechanical problems, thus ending only seventh in the 13-man field that includes 10x American world champion Jeff Jacobs.

At the start of the pro-Am Wave Blaster class, he was left behind as he had to circle back a missed bouy.

Getting his acts together, he started passing one rider after another and finished second in the first heat.

Then in the final heat, the polesitter made a big mistake of taking a wide turn at the hairpin, giving Del Rosario the open door to wrest the lead. From thereon, he held on to his post to claim the checquered flag.