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Emslie and Basnett join Bryson in Round 3 of Billabong Pro Mundaka in Spain |
| Billabong Pro Mundaka Stop No. 8 of 10 on the 2007 Foster’s ASP World Tour Mundaka, Euskadi, North of Spain Oct. 2-14, 2007 South Africans Greg Emslie and Ricky Basnett joined compatriot Royden Bryson in Round 3 of the R2.1 million Billabong Pro Mundaka on the north coast of Spain after recording second round victories on Sunday. Competing in one metre waves at the backup spot of Bakio where the contest had been re-located as conditions were not suitable at the famed river mouth surf spot of Mundaka, Emslie beat Troy Brooks (AUS) with a wave he caught in the last 30 seconds of the heat. Needing just 4.18 points, the East Londoner threw everything into his last turn on the wave and was awarded 4.80 points to squeak into the last 32 of the eighth of 10 stops on the 2007 Foster’s ASP World Tour. “It’s been pretty tough out there,” Emslie said. “If you get two turns in on a wave you’re pretty lucky. You never know when the waves are going to close out so I just did one quick turn and then gave my second turn everything I had. I’m just really happy I got that last one.” Emslie comes into the Billabong Pro Mundaka fresh from a runner-up finish in France last week. The result was the best of Emslie’s eight-year career, not to mention the first time a South African had appeared in the final of a top tier event since the ASP introduced the two-tier world championship system in 1992. “It’s kind of a bummer that this event came so soon after France because I didn’t really have time to enjoy my 2nd place finish before this one started. I’m stoked with the win today, so I’m going back to the hotel, try to get to sleep early and not think about what I might have to do tomorrow. Hopefully we get some good Mundaka tomorrow though!” Basnett took the lead in his encounter with Brazilian Raoni Monteiro by earning an excellent 7.50 with just seven minutes remaining in the last heat of the day. Following that up with a 5.27 on his next ride, the 22 year-old from Durban’s Bluff left Monteiro looking for 6.95 and although the South American posted a 6.50 that reduced the deficit to 6.28, Basnett maintained his proud record of reaching the third round in every event in his rookie year. “I was stressing a bit about getting that 33rd,” said Basnett. “I was pumped to win and hopefully I can keep on going with the good results and go further.” The SA duo joined Bryson in Round 3 after the East London based rookie won his opening encounter and skipped the cutthroat second round. South Africa is assured of at least one representative in the last 16 as Basnett and Bryson are drawn against each other when the contest resumes. “I don’t really care about who will be in my next heat,” commented Basnett on the draw. “I know me and Royden Bryson will meet again but it’ll be fun, we are traveling together right now. I’ll just take it as it comes.” Emslie, who catapulted from No 35 to No 27 following his second place in France last week, will take on current World No 37 Phil MacDonald (AUS) next. Both seasoned elite tour campaigners will be desperate for a victory as only the top 27 ranked surfers on the yearend ratings automatically re-qualify for the following year. Travis Logie (Durban), the fourth SA campaigner on the 2007 Foster’s ASP World Tour, has withdrawn from both the events in Europe due to ligament and cartilage damage in his right knee incurred shortly before the Trestles event in California in September. The fickle waves at Bakio provided no problems for current World No’s 1 and 2, Mick Fanning (AUS) and Kelly Slater (USA) respectively, as both advanced directly to Round 3 after opening round victories last Tuesday. Taj Burrow kept his challenge for a maiden world title alive with a comprehensive Round 2 victory over wildcard Manoa Drollet (Tahiti) on Sunday, but World No. 4 Andy Irons was ousted from the event by local wildcard Hodei Collazo (Spain), a result that effectively eliminates the former three-time world champ from contention for the 2007 world crown. Conditions at Mundaka were not suitable to run Round 3 of the Billabong Pro on Monday morning, so competition has been called off for the day with the next call being made at 8am on Tuesday. Two full days of competition remain before a champion will be crowned. There are six days left in the Billabong Pro Mundaka waiting period which runs until 14 October. ROUND 3 BILLABONG PRO MUNDAKA MATCH-UPS: Heat 1: Bobby Martinez (USA) earns a bye over Trent Munro (AUS) Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Bernardo Miranda (BRA) Heat 3: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs. Phillip Macdonald (AUS) Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Gabe Kling (USA) Heat 5: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS) Heat 6: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Victor Ribas (BRA) Heat 7: Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS) Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Hodei Collazo (EUK) Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT) Heat 10: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS) Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Shaun Cansdell (AUS) Heat 12: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA) Heat 13: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Aritz Aranburu (AUS) Heat 14: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) vs. Royden Bryson (ZAF) Heat 15: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Luke Munro (AUS) Heat 16: Michael Campbell (AUS) vs. Leonardo Neves (BRA) /ends |
| Date: 8 Oct 07 |