Two big heat wins saw Yuji Nishi (JPN) move into the Round of 16 in the 2025 Baler International Pro QS 4000 . Credit: WSL / Abdel Elecho
SABANG BEACH, Baler, Philippines (Wednesday, November 19, 2025) – Stunning conditions greeted competitors for day two of the Baler International Pro, a World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 4000 and Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) event. Clean two-to-three-foot waves were on offer early for the LQS, before strong trade winds came up, providing a ruffled ocean for the QS. Men’s Round of 16 and women’s Quarterfinals were completed in the LQS, while women’s Round of 20 and men’s Round of 48 were held in the QS 4000, along with the first half of men’s Round of 32.
The first heat of the women’s QS 4000 saw local 13-year-old Cathleya Isidra (PHL) advance through to the Round of 16, with Nilbie Blancada (PHL) claiming the following heat to advance with fellow Siargao Islander Shelamae Arjona (PHL).
Yet another Siargao Island surfer, Jayuard Alciso (PHL), posted the highest heat total of the QS event so far, 13.25 (out of a possible 20) in men’s Round of 48. Alciso stayed exceptionally busy, catching 14 waves, with his best, a 7.00 (out of a possible 10) coming near the end. The 20-year-old combined a flowing air reverse with a clean end section hit to take the win ahead of Subaru Yoneyama (JPN) and eliminate Longboard Tour competitor Jomarie Ebueza (PHL) and Takumi Nakamura (JPN).
“My game plan was to do some big airs,” Alciso said. “I was trying to make sure I had some good waves first, before I went to the air, and also tried to do good turns with the airs. That’s why I was able to get good scores.”
Fresh from a Quarterfinal finish in Taiwan, Yuji Nishi (JPN) claimed two big heat wins to move into the Round of 16. The 25-year-old was able to drive with speed and power through the small waves to post solid scores. Nishi maintained heat control throughout his opening Round of 48 performance, while effective use of priority saw him capitalize in his Round of 32 heat, posting both counting scores in the final five minutes to earn the highest heat total so far in the round, 12.55.
“In the first half, I got a good start, scoring two 4-point rides,” NIshi said. “But then [Taki Kanazawa] got a high 5-point score. Then, gradually, [Shohei Kato] also started getting high scores. So I was being pushed back. I got a 6-point score around the fifth minute, and got a high score. Then, I got back into priority again at the end, so I was glad to come in first.”
In the Round of 48, a huge two-turn combo saw Takuto Ohta (JPN) post the first excellent score of the QS event, an 8.00, on his very first wave. Meanwhile, in the Round of 32, An early interference saw a fired-up Ikko Watanabe (JPN) nearly make an all-Japanese heat with only a single counting score of 7.75, but Raiha Onou (JPN) was able to hang on behind Raiki Masuda (JPN) to move into the Round of 16. Dylan Wilcoxen (INA) and Olympian Reo Inaba (JPN) also progressed into the Round of 16 with opening heat wins.
Following on from a win by his younger brother June Esquivel (PHL) in the first heat of the day, defending LQS winner Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) made immediate use of both side of the main peak. The elder Esquievel picked up a 6.00 on his backhand on the right, before finding a long nose-ride on his forehand that included an extended, critical hang-ten. The 8.00 awarded was the first excellent score of the event, and his 14.00 two-wave total also notched as the highest of the contest so far.
“It’s clean, no wind, glassy, I got lucky on that left and I got an eight-point ride,” Esquievel said. “My goal is to level up my [Longboard Tour] ranking and try to win even one leg on the Tour and improve my surfing more. I will keep practicing and keep improving, and let’s see what’s going to happen next year.”
In the women’s LQS Quarterfinals, fellow defending winner, Natsumi Taoka (JPN) also claimed a heat win to make her way into the Semifinals. The clean nose-rides and powerful turns of Taoka earned a 6.25 and 5.95 for a 12.20 heat total, the highest of the round.Â
The remaining Quarterfinals saw three sets of family members battling it out in various ways, with the younger of each taking the win. 14-year-old Mara Lopez (PHL) claimed the win over her coach and mentor Daisy Dela Torre (PHL), while Dela Torre’s 15-year-old daughter Kaila Jane Dela Torre (PHL) eliminated Lopez’s older sister, Ashlee Lopez (PHL). In the final heat, 17-year-old Sakura Inoue (JPN) eliminated her older sister Kaede Inoue (JPN). It will be the first LQS Semifinal appearance for Lopez, who will face Taoka.
“Of course I was nervous because Aunt Daisy was the one who taught me how to do everything,” Lopez said. “But I’m really happy to make it to the Semifinals, Natsumi [Taoka] is my idol.”
The 2025 Baler International Pro presented by Philippine Sports Commission is proudly supported by the Provincial Government of Baler, Aurora, Costa Pacifica and Senator Sonny Angara. Sponsored by PAGCOR, National Youth Commission, Kudosurf, Vissla, ASRAI, and SDMI Sports.
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