Filipe Toledo has become the first Brazilian surfer to advance to the quarterfinals of the Cloud 9 stop on the WSL World Tour, held in the Philippines. On Sunday night, which corresponded to Monday morning on Siargao Island, the two-time world champion defeated Griffin Colapinto, currently ranked third globally, to progress in the competition.
Colapinto, who recently won the Portugal event, initially took the lead with a wave scored 6.00. However, Toledo responded by securing two waves rated 7.00 each, finishing with a total score of 14.00. Colapinto's second-best wave was scored 6.33, resulting in a final sum of 12.33 and his elimination from the event.
Toledo now awaits the winner of the upcoming match between Ethan Ewing of Australia and John Mark Tokong of the Philippines to determine his quarterfinal opponent. Other Brazilian competitors, Yago Dora and Gabriel Medina, are still competing in the round of 16. Meanwhile, fellow Brazilians Ítalo Ferreira and Miguel Pupo were eliminated in the same round, losing to Seth Moniz and Jack Robinson respectively.
The Cloud 9 event marks the 11th and penultimate stop of the WSL World Tour. The competition is broadcast on sportv3 and GloboPlay.
Sources: Globo Esporte.