Concepcion barely outguns young Valdez

MANILA, Philippines - Barcelona Olympics veteran Emerito Concepcion, needing one big final round to beat rising star Jason Valdez, did just that, scoring a near-perfect round of 99 to rule the 10-meter Air Rifle event of the 2011 PNSA National Open at the Philippine National Shooting Association Shooting Range in Fort Bonifacio over the weekend.

Tied with Valdez, the 15-year-old sensation from Malate Catholic Church, going into the sixth and final round, Concepcion, three-time SEAG gold medalist, flashed vintage form, capped by that 99 that gave him a six-round total of 584 and a one-point victory in the event organized by PNSA, headed by Mikee Romero, and presented by Harbour Centre and AirAsia.

Concepcion’s thrilling win provided the perfect start to the four-week tournament aimed at discovering new talents for future international events. Finishing third was Miguel Gabriel Jayme with 561, four points ahead of Celdon Arellano.

“It was a thriller of a shootout,” said Romero, who is pinning his hopes on the two crack air rifle shooters and pistol king Tac Padilla for the coming SEA Games. “But I still believe that we can pull off some surprises in other events, even in the women’s division. They’re all pumped up for the SEA Games,” he added.

In the distaff side, Venus Lovelyn Tan, also a member of the 11-man Philippine team for this year’s Indonesia SEA Games, tallied 383 points to beat Diana Nicole Eufemio by three points. Ma. Isabelle Eufemio wound up third with 373 in the event with Maria Cleofas as tournament director.

Meantime, action resumes tomorrow with the staging of Rapid Fire – 25m and 50m range – and Center Fire Pistol, Sports Pistol and Rifle Prone on Sunday.

Sharing the limelight with Concepcion and Tan in the event with Richard Fernandez as Bench Rest chairman were Northern Samar’s Gallahad “Gal” Vicencio and Randy Paronda.

Bucking foul weather, Vicencio ruled the Open Division of the Bench Rest 50-meter competition, edging Maria Parsons and Lester Carigo while Paronda topped the Semi-Auto Division by beating Louie Gonzalez and Gilbert Manela.

Other winners were Johnny Garcia (Seniors), Louie Gonzalez (Sporter Division), Carlos San Jose (Sporter Seniors), Danvy Henares (Semis Auto Seniors).

The Semi Auto Asia Defense and Armaments Corp Top Gun Awardees were Gilbert Manela (gold), Anton Medina (silver) and Louie Gonzales (bronze).