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Ryou dethrones Kim
Cody Shipman propels himself up in one of his routines during his finals match against Thomas Reyes in last Saturday’s Pacific Islands Club-Saipan International Point Break Open at the hotel’s flowrider facility in San Antonio. (Jon Perez)
Min Kyu Ryou dethroned last year’s champion Jae Won Kim in the finals of the men’s pro bodyboard in Pacific Island Club-Saipan’s 11th Annual International Point Break Open held over the weekend at the hotel’s flowrider facility in San Antonio.
Jae Won Kim was the tournament’s top seed after winning last year’s event, but could not defend his title with Ryou managing to pull off the upset in one of the closest finals matches of the tournament, 51.5-50
Jae Won Kim drew a bye in the first round of the six-man field and faced Ki Taek Kim in the semifinals. He was almost eliminated as he won by only three points against Ki Taek Kim, 51-48.
It was Jae Won Kim’s second straight victory against Ki Taek Kim as he also foiled the latter’s title bid last year with a 51.6-44.9 tally.
Ryou, No. 2 after the seeding round, also had a close match against Sai Bangot Jr. with a 51.5-47 scoreline. Ki Taek Kim defeated Jae Hyuk Ryu, 44.5-38, to earn a spot in the semifinals while Bangot followed suit with a 46.5-30 trouncing of J.J. Lewis. Ki Taek Kim nipped Bangot, 46.5-45.5, in their battle for third place.
In the men’s open bodyboard division, Francis Hartman came out victorious to lead the Top 3 winners.
Hartman, who was in the lower half of the field, ruled the division after a 49-45 win over Hee Chul Ryou.
His road to the title included a 44.5-43 decision over Jae Hyuk Ryu and close 41-40.5 victory against Jin Woo Ryou. Hartman then faced Bangot in the semifinals and their match up needed a second run after they ended up tied at 42. He advanced to the finals after squeezing out a 23.5-22.5 decision over Bangot. Bangot thwarted Ki Tark Kim’s bid to earn another podium finish in their battle for third by scoring a 46.5-43.5 win.
Hee Chul Ryou drew a bye in the first round then defeated Carmelino Garcia, 44-37, in the Last 8 and dispatched Ki Taek Kim in the Final Four, 40-31.5. Ki Taek Kim also had a bye then beat James Welley, 44.5-41, and lost to Hee Chul Ryou. Bangot’s other win was against Jerome Ortiguerra, 45.5-33. Welley bested Neil Fama, 39.5-37, while Ortiguerra downed Lewis, 30-22.5, in the other first round results.
In the men’s intermediate bodybard, Cody Shipman escaped with a 46-45.5 decision over Thomas Reyes in their championship match. Shipman eliminated Ji Yong Lim, 48.5-34.5, to earn a finals berth, while Reyes followed after a 41.5-35 win over Welley. Welley defeated Ji Young Lim, a 30.5-28.5 winner over Hiram Castro, in their battle for third place.
Hee Chul Ryou won against Jin Woo Kim for the men’s masters bodyboard division title. He narrowly beat Kim, 46-45.5.
In other results, Paul Suarez earned the men’s flowboard championship after defeating Archie Abugan, 55-47.5. His other wins were against Hayden Gifford, 51-35.5, and Jae Won Kim, 52-46.
Abugan disposed off Ezekiel Valdez, 43-28.5, Ortiguerra, 39-36.5, and Jin Woo Kim, 42-41.5, to earn his place in the finals.
Jae Won Kim, meanwhile, escaped with a 46.5-46 result over Jin Woo Kim to earn third place honors.
Jae Won Kim triumphed over Norjay Hipolito, 47.5-34, while Jin Woo Kim conquered Ryuta Onuki, 42-31.5, to advance to the semifinals. Jae Won Kim also scored a 46.5-34 win over Jin Woo Ryou in the first round, while Jin Woo Kim drew a bye.
Gifford beat Nathan Kaipat, 39-36; Norjay Hipolito defeated Austin Barcinas, 41.5-36; Onuki bested Min Kyu Ryou, 40-34; and Ortiguerra emerged victorious over Reyes, 40.5-33.
