Chuatoco tops qualifier but skips SEASA tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Alyanna Chuatoco, a fast-rising shooting star, continued to show fine form by ruling the 10m air pistol event in last Sunday’s qualifying event for the coming SEASA Championships in Malaysia.

Chuatoco, a 17-year-old veteran of the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, tallied 373 points to beat Shanin Gonzales (369), Clarisse Esteves (356), Sophie Reyes (345) and Jessica Tan (332).

Chuatoco ruled the same event the last time the Philippine National Shooting Association under Mikee Romero held its monthly qualifiers at the Fort Bonifacio Shooting Range.

With the victory, Chuatoco earned the slot to the Southeast Asian Shooting Association (SEASA) even set June 2-10 in Malaysia.

But conflict with her studies might prevent her from competing in Malaysia, and Gonzales, for finishing second last Sunday, should represent the Philippines.

Chuatoco is an incoming freshman at Ateneo where she will take up computer technology. She has to attend an orientation for all incoming freshmen on June 2-4.

“Otherwise, I cannot go on and enroll. My family has decided that I will skip the SEASA event. We feel that it’s a good reason to skip a tournament. Studies first,” she said.

Chuatoco’s father, Allen Chuatoco, said it’s quite unfortunate that the SEASA Championship coincided with his daughter’s orientation at Ateneo.

He said a 373 in the SEASA event could be good for the silver or even the gold.

The same thing happened to Chuatoco last year when she gave up a chance to compete in the SEA Games in Indonesia because of her entrance exams at Ateneo.

Chuatoco has already earned a slot to the Ateneo varsity team, and its coach, Danny Flores, said it’s the first time that a first-year, first-semester student was given varsity status.

Instead, Chuatoco is gearing up for the Philippine National Games shooting competitions set May 27 also at Fort Bonifacion.

Then there’s the fifth Asian Shooting Championships in Nanjing, China from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4.

“I’m really looking forward to that because by that time it will be our sem break in school. In Nanjing, I will get to compete with the shooters that joined the last Asian Games,” said Chuatoco.