MANILA, Philippines - Mikayla Shalom “Misha” Fabian flashed top form in choreography and interpretation to place third in the Basic Junior Ladies division of the Asian Junior Figure Skating Championship in Hong Kong recently.
The 17-year-old budding commercial model, also this year’s Milo girl for figure skating, combined talent and the x-factor to score big in her Program Component Score more than in her technical elements.
The AB MEco freshman at Ateneo earned the judges’ nod and the audience’s approval to post a podium finish with 54.34 points or 6.28 points higher than her personal best of 48.06 points in last year’s Asian Championship.
Despite a program with a limited repertoire of advanced moves, Fabian generated interest with sheer artistry and figure skating prowess in the event that drew top figure skaters from China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Indonesia amd Thailand.
The Filipina got a deduction for a fall on the double flip while doing her relatively new short and free skate programs but compensated in overall performance for excellence in choreography and interpretation.
Meanwhile, Fabian resumes university studies and her regular training at the SM International Skating Rink in preparation for the Philippine National Figure Skating Championships this month.
She is a bona fide member of the FilChi Ice Skating Club, an affiliated organization of the Philippine Skating Union.