Manila, Philippines - The Networx-Jetsports Phl Team made a big splash behind BJ Ang, Raymund Romualdez and Abby Reyes who scored impressively against foreign riders recently in the highly competitive Melaka International Invitational Jet Ski Challenge in Malaysia.
BJ provided the most exciting victory as he raised the Philippine flag up high, struggling past ace foreign champions to capture the premier Pro Am Runabout Open plum despite several problems that almost forced him out of the competition with the big support of L.T. Kawasaki team of Lionell Tan, and the CTM Racing Team of Faez Noor, Adash Shahida Noor, and Kina Shakina Noor.
Raymund Romualdez, son of Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, proved his big potentials in finishing fifth among 18 riders in the Endurance Runabout Open class on his first international stint.
Romualdez, 21, stunned everyone with his stamina and riding skills as he went full throttle all the way using only a stock boat against the rivals’ powerful modified engines in the endurance race that lasted 75 minutes.
For his feat, Raymund earned a slot into the Philippine team competing in the annual Thailand King’s Cup this December.
Ace Pinay rider Abby Reyes likewise copped fourth place against nine other rivals in the Women’s Runabout Open class.
Despite limited practice on an unfamiliar stock Kawasaki Ultra250 ski, her talent showed as she gave the host Malaysian riders a tough fight finishing sixth in Moto 1, fourth in Moto 2, second in Moto 3 and third in Moto 4 which was only decided on the last lap following a tight neck to neck battle against 4th placer with only a one-foot length separating them at the finish line.
”It was one big feat for the Philippines and our stint here earned the respect of foreign riders for Filipinos,” said Darrell Garbes who acted as the RP-Networx Team Manager
But it was Ang who earned the respect of the crowd when he turned back two Japanese world champions Toshi Ohara and Jun Ikoma and two others from Brunei and Singapore. Having no time to practice and only two minutes of trial run on a new Kawasaki Ultra 300x stock boat, he still gave Ohara and his modified ski a tough fight and even ruled the last three Moto races.
After his runner-up finish in Moto 1, Ang evened up the fight against Ohara in winning Moto 2 despite a dead engine start due to a jumpstart, and gained a slight edge in the standings following his triumph in Moto 3.
But Ang’s overall win didn’t come with a silver platter. Ohara could still claim the title if he wins Moto 4 and Ang was plagued with several problems in the final run.
His ski had a handling part that broke and was replaced by a stock part. Later, he failed to start right away with the pack because of loose battery connection but staged a rousing rally to wrest the overall lead and win the title.