Young shooting star upsets SEAG veteran

MANILA, Philippines - Jayson Valdez, a 15-year-old Malate Catholic School junior and a product of the shooting association’s NYDP (National Youth Development Program), shocked many-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Emerito Concepcion by winning the 50-meter 3-position rifle event last Sunday in the monthly qualifying tournament for the Asian Games at the PSC/Marines range in Fort Bonifacio.

Using an old rifle belonging to youth team head coach Bartolome Teyab, Valdez tallied 1,106 points in the prone, kneeling and standing positions to trim heavily favored veteran Concepcion by four.

“Valdez really surprised everyone with his performance,” said Laos SEAG gold medalist and NYDP chair Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla, who remained as the top pistol shooter by winning the 25-meter standard and rapid fire events.

Although Valdez lost to Concepcion by five points in the men’s 10-meter air rifle competition, 571 to 576, many experts, including PNSA president Art Macapagal, predicted it won’t be long before he becomes the country’s top rifleman.

Satino Hermoso finished third in both rifle events with 106 (3-position) and 565 (10-meter).

Padilla shot 551 and 566 in standard and rapid fire, respectively, to pull away from Robert Donalvo (546 and 538) and Ronald Hejastro (539 and 535).

Padilla, general manager of his family-owned Spring Cooking Oil firm, tried his hand in another event he’s not too familiar with, 10-meter air pistol, and still managed to earn a silver behind little-known Tito Carpio.

Carpio fired 561 against Padilla’s 551 and Mark Lorenz Manosca’s 550.

Other gold medal winners were Shanin Gonzales (women’s 10-meter air pistol, and Venus Tan, women’s 10-meter air rifle.

Gonzales tallied 371 to finish ahead of Alyanna Chuatoco (364) and Maika Lacson (361), while Tan carded 373 to trim Dianne Eufemio (371) and Irish Palma (364).