Simmers, Medina make history as first Philippines Pro champions
The Manila Times · 11/3/2026, 3:05:52 PM Philippine time
Excerpt from The Manila Times. Read the original report below for the complete story.SIARGAO, Philippines – Caitlin Simmers and Gabriel Medina claimed the women's and men's titles, respectively, in the first-ever World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour Philippines Pro at Cloud 9 on Tuesday. Simmers, the American world No. 6, defeated Australia's Isabella Nichols, 12.00-10.77, in the women's final to become the first women's champion of the Philippine leg. Simmers secured her place in the championship round after beating world No. 2 Carissa Moore in the semifinals. Moore's campaign came to an end after she received an Interference Penalty 2, which wiped out the wave where the violation occurred and her second scoring wave. Nichols reached the final after defeating fellow Australian Tyler Wright in the other semifinal but fell short against Simmers in the title match. The prestigious competition is presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), with the support of Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers, General Luna Mayor Johnson Sajulga and Vice Mayor Romina Sajulga. In the men's final, Brazilian world No. 4 Gabriel Medina…