The Philippine jet ski team is expecting a busy 2025 calendar after its fruitful campaign in the Waterjet World Grand Prix in Pattaya City, Thailand last December.

Competing under the guidance of 2023 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) bronze medalist BJ Ang, the Filipinos recently made waves after hauling medals in the prestigious competition with Kristine Kate Mercado and Angelo Ventus leading the winners despite dealing with their academic duties.

Mercado of General Santos City became a Triple Crown World Champion in the women’s runabout 1100 stock (World Series) category and fourth overall in the World Cup, while FEU Diliman’s Ventus topped the Triple Crown novice runabout stock and placed second in the novice runabout 1100 stock.

“Every weekend I fly (from IloIlo) to Manila then travel to Subic. I think what keeps me going is my passion for sport. Because I want to do this, I need to balance and put time on my practice and my studies,” said Mercado.

“I’m balancing my practice every weekend po, I have classes from Monday to Saturday then I go to Subic on Sundays,” Ventus added.

Those feats were noticed by their foreign rivals, resulting in numerous invitations from international tournaments as early as now.

For coach Ang, the Filipino racers are among the best in the world.

“This by far is the best team in the history of Philippine (jet ski) racing,” said Ang in the team’s media presentation at the Fashion Interiors in Makati City Monday, Jan, 20.

“Filipinos always have the skills, we just lack the technology… and with dedication and perseverance in knowing and studying well about the technology, we’re able to jump somewhere,” he added.

The squad – which is expected to be bigger than the four-man group in the last SEAG edition – is eyeing to impress in the upcoming 33rd SEA Games which is set in Thailand this December. 

“I’m very confident na magiging maganda ang future nila, sabi konga medyo hinog na sila, pero ando’n na sila… Alam ko na kaya,” said Ang.

“We’re very optimistic na makapag-podium tayo do’n, and sana before akong mag-retire maka-isa ulit, kasi last time ako ‘yong nakakuha ng [bronze] medal,” he added.

However, they should wait for a go signal before they can officially vie in the biennial meet. And if things go their way, the Jet Ski Association of the Philippines (JSAP) will have a selection process for its representatives who will then be submitted to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for approval.