Ang leads Phl shooters to six SEASA medals

MANILA, Philippines - Beijing Olympic veteran Eric Ang captured the gold medal in the men’s individual trap to highlight the country’s six-medal romp in the recent 36th Southeast Asia Shooting Association (SEASA) Championships in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Ang, 41, shot 134 points to beat Taiwanese ace Hsu Ching Huang by four for the gold medal – his third in the annual event counting a two-goal haul in the 2007 edition. Malaysian star Bernard Yeoh settled for bronze with 128 points.

“I’m in tip-top condition,” said the pride of Laoag City who, however, missed a berth in the London Games due to lack of tournaments.

Ang’s golden feat somehow made up for the misfortune that struck London Games-bound Brian Rosario whose shotgun broke down in the skeet competition.

Col. Nil Gamboa, secretary-general of the Philippine National Shooting Association, said Rosario was doing well before the lip spring on his trigger snapped.

“Good thing it happened now, but I already fixed it,” said Rosario.

Aside from Ang’s gold medal, the Filipino shooters also bagged two silver and three bronze medals – a performance that elated shooting president Mikee Romero of Harbour Centre.

“I’m happy that the PNSA shooting programs are now developing new shooters, increasing and honing their skills and producing medals for the country, I am very proud of these shooters,” said Romero, who likewise brought in a new rifle coach in Spanish Miguel Tajuelo.

“We are now on the right path, but we have to have more events here and abroad for our shooters,” said Romero, who is optimistic that with the arrival of the Spanish coach and the upgrading of the shooting ranges more shooters will be encouraged to train religiously.

Winning silver medal were upcoming Miguel Laperal in the junior trap and the troika of Emerito Concepcion, Jason Valdez and Celdon Arellano. Concepcion, the most senior in the team, also bagged the bronze in the men’s air rifle three-position.

Joelle Panganiban, on the other hand, won two bronze medal – one in the individual trap and the other in the team trap – along with Ylvana Dy and Monica Yang.