NAGOYA, Japan — Team Philippines is one step closer to a historic finish in skateboarding. Mazel Paris and Jericho Francisco both punched their tickets to the final round of the 20th Asian Games after strong preliminary showings at Aichi Sky Expo on Thursday.

The back-to-back qualifications mark a milestone for Philippine skateboarding on the continental stage. Both athletes now carry the country’s hopes into Friday’s medal round — a day that could define a new era for the sport locally.

Paris, Amador Chase Podium Dreams in Women’s Park

Paris, just 12 years old, finished fourth overall in the women’s park skateboarding preliminaries. She posted a score of 73.93 points in Heat 2, enough to secure her spot among the finalists heading into Friday’s showdown.

Japan’s Mizuho Hasegawa led the pack in the same heat, topping the field with 89.15 points. Despite the gap, Paris said she was satisfied with how her run played out on the international stage.

“It was super fun. I landed my runs, and that was my goal,” Paris said. She added that her focus for the final round is simple: land clean runs and enjoy the moment.

Elizabeth Amador also represented the Philippines in the women’s division, finishing fourth in Heat 2 with 59.99 points. While she didn’t advance to the final round, her run added depth to the country’s skateboarding campaign in Nagoya.

Francisco Books Men’s Final Spot With Trick-Filled Run

On the men’s side, Francisco delivered a strong preliminary performance of his own, finishing fourth overall in the men’s park skateboarding event with 80.64 points. The result puts him firmly in contention as the competition heads into its final stretch.

Francisco described the experience as a rewarding one, crediting the atmosphere at Aichi Sky Expo for bringing out his best runs. He said the crowd energy pushed him to skate with more confidence throughout his heat.

“I had a really, really good time,” Francisco said. He added that he still has tricks in reserve, hinting at a more aggressive approach when he returns to the course for Friday’s final.

Friday’s finals are set to begin with the women’s park skateboarding event at 9 a.m. Manila time, followed by the men’s event at 11:30 a.m. Both Paris and Francisco will look to build on their preliminary momentum as they aim for a podium finish for the Philippines.