Tac captures national plum for 31st year

MANILA, Philippines - Veteran internationalist Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla emerged national rapid fire champion for the 31st year and youthful Jayson Valdez solidified his position as the country’s top rifleman last weekend in the 2010 Philippine Open shooting championships at the PSC/Marine range in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Padilla, the reigning Southeast Asian Games rapid fire titlist, fired 558 points to crush Robert Donalvo (531) and Inocentes Dionesa (507) in the rapid fire event Saturday. Then he carded 553 to whip Donalvo (534) and Ronald Hejastro (526) the following day.

Valdez, 14-year-old Malate Catholic School junior and a product of the National Youth Development Program, swept the gold medals in the men’s 50-meter prone competition and the 10-meter air rifle event.

Valdez tallied 581 points to beat Rocky Pardilla (577) and Eddie Tomas (573) in the men’s prone event and then recorded 586 to rout Allen Pinlac (572) and Filbert Tan (567) in men’s arifle.

The other gold medalists in the tourney organized by the Philippine National Shooting Association are Inna Therese Gutierrez, 50-meter women’s prone; Isabelle Eufemio, 10-meter women’s air rifle; PAGCOR’s Carolino Gonzales, 50-meter men’s pistol; Patricio Bernardo, skeet; and Olympian Eric Ang, trap.

Gutierrez and Charisse Palma actually scored identical 573s, but Gutierrez prevailed because of a better score in the last series, 99 to 95, while Eufemio also won the gold in the last series (97-93) after finishing in a tie with Venus Tan at 382. Irish Palma grabbed the bronze medal at 378.

Gonzales fired 520 to hold off Ronald Robles (500) and Romulo Tilos (488), Bernardo shot 109 to edge Paul Brian Rosario (108) and Alfonso Lim (105) and Ang recorded 111 to trim Carlos Carag (108) and Hagen Alexander Topacio (103).

The awarding ceremonies will be held tomorrow at the Manila Yatch Club after the final competitions today and tomorrow.