Rifle group also backs Romero's bid in shooting

MANILA, Philippines - Shooting members belonging to the rifle group have endorsed Harbour Centre CEO Mikee Romero as successor of former Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA) president and two-time Olympian Art Macapagal, who resigned from his post recently.

The trap and moving target of James Chua and the pistol group of multi-titled Tac Padilla earlier pushed for Romero to lead one of the biggest and active sports associations in the country.

“With the Southeast Asian Games just around the corner, we need a leader who has a fresh outlook,” said Col. Danilo Gamboa, member of the Philippine pistol team from 1975-1985.

“As a shooting enthusiast, I would like to welcome Mr. Romero to our association. He competed in a big tournament in the past so he knows very well the charter of the association.”

Romero’s willingness to become PNSA president is also one of the major factors why his group is backing the young sports leader, according to Gamboa.

“He has the feel for the sport, so I hope we in the board can sit down the soonest possible to fill the leadership vacuum,” said Gamboa.

A reliable source said that 11 of the 15-man Board would endorse Romero’s presidency.

“We now have the numbers to endorse Romero’s presidency,” the source said.

The trap and moving target group – to which Romero belongs – already passed and approved recently a petition electing Romero as one of its directors to the 15-man Board.

“With the nomination of the trap and moving target, I think there’s no more problem for Mr. Romero to be elected president. As I said, we need a young blood who can infuse new and sound ideas to the group,” said Gamboa, who hails from Silay City, Negros Occidental.

An avowed sports leader who owns a champion team in basketball and baseball, Romero stressed that he would only accept the PNSA leadership if majority of the Board elected him as president.

Under the PNSA rules, only a member of the 15-man Board is allowed to run as president of the national sports association.

“I love to serve as head of a sports association that is dearest to my heart. So if I’ll get majority of the votes, then I am willing to lead the shooting association,” said Romero. “I’m humbled by the strong support of the shotgun shooters.”

The two other groups are practical and non-Olympic sport.

Given the opportunity to serve and lead the PNSA, Romero intends to revitalize the association and make the sport a regular fixture in both the UAAP and NCAA calendar in a bid to generate talents capable of winning in the Olympics.