Day 2 of the inaugural Baler International Pro witnessed non-stop excitement as both the men’s and women’s divisions saw their semifinalists emerge. Surfers battled it out in slightly onshore 2-3 foot waves at Sabang Beach, carving long lines on both right and left sections.

Women’s Division:

Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN) continued her dominant run, securing her fourth consecutive Finals Day appearance in four events. Her powerful backhand attack, including a competition-best 8.75, left no doubt about her skills. Sara Wakita (JPN) also impressed, showcasing smooth flow and speed to land the first excellent score (8.00) of the women’s division and book her spot in the Semifinals. Joining them are Minami Nonaka (JPN) and Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN), who pulled off a stunning upset against current No. 3 Kana Nakashio (JPN). These results open up significant ranking advancement opportunities for all three.

Minami Nonaka performing at the Baler International Pro. Credit: WSL/Elecho

Men’s Division:

Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) made a strong comeback after an early exit at the La Union International Pro. Leveraging his experience, he delivered two convincing heat wins, propelling him into the Semifinals. Currently ranked No. 11, Ohhara has a golden chance to climb the rankings ladder. The lone Filipino representative, Philmar Alipayo (PHL), created a stir by eliminating both No. 1 Keijiro Nishi (JPN) and No. 3 Kian Martin (SWE) in the Quarterfinals. This unexpected turn of events paves the way for Ohhara to potentially crack the top 5. Joining them in the Semifinals are Rinta Oooto (JPN), Joh Azuchi (JPN), and Ketut Agus (INA). Agus, the only remaining non-Japanese competitor, displayed impressive small-wave skills, earning a high single-wave score of 7.75.

With anticipation at an all-time high, competitors have been advised to be on standby for a possible early start tomorrow morning at 7:30 am.