Luka and Ben, headed by Captain Rick George, included a six-man team as it caught its monster marlin last Saturday morning.
“We saw it around 7:50 a.m.,” recalled George in an interview with Variety.
The crew hustled for an hour and 10 minutes before securing their winning catch at Paladag Reef.
George and anglers Ben Fitipol, Steven Igisaiar, Phillip Aldan Sr., Melvin Aldan, Mika Okubo, and Phillip Aldan Jr. dedicated their victory to fellow fisherman Stan Waki, who passed away earlier this year.
Members of the Luka and Ben won $2,000, a round trip ticket to the US courtesy of Delta Air Lines, Budweiser products, a first aid kit, and a phone from Docomo Pacific.
Meanwhile, the Tweety’s Gonzalo Pangelinan, JD Tenorio, and Joe Selbart won the Mobil Cup and $500 with the heaviest total weight of 144.4 lbs.
Members of the Tweety also won a round trip ticket to Japan from Delta Air Lines.
The Mada Flyer topped the Bill Fish Category with 357.5 lbs., earning Lino Tenorio, Senator Luis Crisostimo, and Fuko Ishikawa $1,250 with a grill and first aid kit. Da Atta Girl’s Vicente Iriarte came in second at 262.5 lbs., followed by Bunita’s Mike Fleming and Rubin Garde (224 lbs.).
The five-man team of My Lady Gora ruled the Yellowfin Category with 50.7 lbs. Jesse, Ignacia, and Jason Aldan, John Castro, and Jordan Ogo won $1,000 with a Budweiser cooler, cellular phone, and tank top.
Saint Patrick’s captain Manding Legaspi, Dodong Salinas, and Antonio Padilla settled for second with a 38.35 lb yellowfin tuna.
In the Wahoo Category, The Marianas’ captain Jesus Muna, Pedro Deleon Guerrero, and Nick Muna ranked first with 31.4 lbs. CM-452-PU’s Tony Flores, Nobert Diaz, and Jake Flores won second at 29.45 lbs. Not far behind with 29.25 lbs., the Emmanuel’s Michael and Frank James and George Arriola placed third to win $300.
The Emmanuel clinched another set of trophies after catching a 27.3 lb. mahi mahi to top the Mahi Mahi Category. Captain Iglecias and Keith and Ignacia Torres of the Sea Ray rallied for second with 10.75 lbs. My Lady Gora ranked third with 3.8 lbs.
Captain Mario Barret and Annie Legaspi fought close competition to win the Skipjack Tuna Category at 16.85 lbs. The Sea Ray placed second at 16.65 lbs., followed by the Magnificent’s Frank Camacho, Marc Artero, Jessie Garcia, and Roy Reyes at 15.3 lbs.
An estimated 60 boats took part in the two-day tournament, which ended last Sunday.
