For the third day running, Yuji Nishi (JPN) earned the best numbers of the men’s QS competition.
Day five of the Baler International Pro, a World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 4000 and Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) event, saw a wind-ruffled two-to-three-feet of swell make conditions challenging for competitors, especially as storm fronts came and went, along with the tide. As the swell built through the day, however, the surf proved highly contestable to complete the LQS Semifinals and the majority of the QS Quarterfinals.
For the third day running, Yuji Nishi (JPN) earned the best numbers of the men’s QS competition. Already holding a strong lead over Taki Kanazawa (JPN), Nishi delivered a series of powerful backhand blasts to earn an 8.75 (out of a possible 10), the highest single wave score of the QS event so far. Combined with a 6.00, Nishi’s 14.75 (out of a possible 20) two-wave total left Kanazawa in need of a near-perfect score to defeat him. Having started the season making his first-ever QS Final at the 2000 level, Nishi now moves into his first Semifinal in a QS 4000 with solid momentum.
In the Semifinals, Nishi will meet Reo Inaba (JPN), who took out the second men’s Quarterfinal over Dylan Wilcoxen (INA) in a much tighter match-up. It marks the first Semifinal of the year for Inaba, who has found consistency hard to come by on the QS since making the Quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Similar to Inaba, Shino Matsuda (JPN) has largely been struggling to find her rhythm after turning heads with her smooth style and impressive read of the barrels at Teahupo’o, Tahiti during the Olympics. Today, Matsuda’s sharp forehand attack on the lefts saw her take the win over current Challenger Series competitor Mirai Ikeda (JPN). Since competing in the first season of the Challenger in 2021, Matsuda has been hoping to make her way back. Currently sitting at No. 8 on the Asia QS regional rankings, the 23-year-old knows how much a big result in Baler could help her campaign.
“I was focused for this heat because it’s an important event for me, but I’m also trying to enjoy it here because waves are really fun and people are so nice,” Matsuda said. “I haven’t been getting good results recently so I really want to get a good result here, but I also want to enjoy my surfing. In the water, I wasn’t thinking about the result, just the waves. I knew it was going to be a tough heat and the wave conditions changed a lot during the day, so yeah, I’m so stoked. I’m here with my mom and we’ve been enjoying this beautiful place.”
Two further goofy-footers, Cocona Kawase (JPN) and Anon Matsuoka (JPN), claimed Quarterfinal wins, leaving defending event winner Minami Nonaka (JPN) as the sole remaining regular-foot. Nonaka once again posted the highest numbers of women’s competition for the day, earning an 11.50 heat total. Earlier in the season, Kawase claimed back-to-back victories in QS 2000’s at home in Japan and the 21-year-old will now feature in her first-ever Semifinal at the QS 4000 level.
The women’s LQS Semifinals set up an all-Japanese Final, with Natsumi Taoka (JPN) and Sakura Inoue (JPN) defeating Mara Lopez (PHL) and Kaila Jane Dela Torre (PHL). The youngest of the three Inoue siblings, Sakura progressed into an LQS Final for the very first time, following in the footsteps of her brother Taka and sister Kaede, who are both already Longboard Tour competitors.
“Today’s conditions were bigger than I expected, and it was difficult to ride a board that I hadn’t practiced on, but I’m glad I was able to advance,” Inoue said. “Next up is Natsumi Taoka and I feel a little more at ease when it’s other Japanese surfers. Anyway, it’s the Final, so hopefully I can get some better waves.”
An all-Filipino men’s LQS Semifinals saw two 2025 Longboard Tour competitors facing surfers vying to clinch those positions for themselves for 2026. The first saw brothers June Esquivel (PHL) and Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) facing off. It was all about the elder brother however, with Rogelio holding full control of the heat throughout. In the second match-up, Edgar Calvo Jr. (PHL) took on Jomarie Ebueza (PHL) in a much tighter battle that saw the lead change multiple times, before the 2025 Longboard Tour rookie, Ebueza, posted a 7.75, leaving Calvo in need of a near-excellent score when the buzzer sounded.
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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