Lopez retains wakeboarding ladies title

Jeena Lopez re-stamped her class in the third Philippine Cable Wakeboarding Nationals as she romped away with the ladies crown at the Camsur Watersports Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur over the weekend.

Lopez, who finished third in the inaugural staging of the event in 2006 then bested the field with impressive and gutsy rides to take the crown last year, scored 86.00 to beat Joyce Recto (65.67) and Andrea Sevilla (62.67) for her second straight title.

Ricky Otilla, meanwhile, pulled off a surprising victory in the men’s side as he bested five other rivals, including two-time defending champion Arthur King with an array of difficult tricks to score an 84.67.

Dan Saraza finished second with 82.33 while King settled for third with 68.67 in a tie with Edwin Tipones followed by Carlo Dela Torre (53.67) and Raymund Tosio (47.67).

Sharing the spotlight in the two-day event were Ernesto Lopez, Januson Dy, Carlo Dela Torre, Philip Jay Nacario, Ma. Josefa Feliza Ermita, Kathleen Reyes, and brothers Julio and Luigi Villafuerte.

Ernesto Lopez went home with the veteran’s plum, while Dy topped the veteran’s division. Dela Torre and Nacario took the open wakeskate and men’s titles, respectively.

Ermita, on the other hand, captured the junior women’s crown while Reyes topped the girls’ event.

Julio and Luigi, sons of Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte, ruled their respective events in the junior divisions.