UP-Ateneo college shootfest slated Sept. 23

MANILA, Philippines -  Two of the country’s leading institutions – University of the Philippines and Ateneo – bring their rivalry to the sports field as they vie in the 1st UP-Ateneo inter-collegiate shooting competition on Sept. 23 at the PSC-Marines range in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

The best pistol and rifle shooters from the two schools, including 12 past and present members of the Philippine team, will pit their skills in 10-meter air pistol and 10-meter air rifle events, both in individual and team competition.

The national shooters who will see action are Ateneo’s Michaela Nicole Padilla, Andrea Faustman, Clarissa Estevez, Dianne and Isabelle Eufemio and Alyanna Chuatoco and UP’s Divina Gracia San Juan, Arminda Vallejo-Santiago, Anva Kirsten Nuguid, Johanna Patricia Ruiz, Michael Peter Hernandez and Susan Alemany.

Roland Maliwanag and Danilo Flores coach the UP and Ateneo teams, respectively.

Mica Padilla is the daughter of national pistol champion and 16-time Southeast Asian Games performer Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla, chair of the Philippine National Shooting Association-National Youth Development Program which organized the one-day shootfest.

Tac Padilla, general manager of their family-owned Spring Cooking Oil, says the competition hopes to boost the Olympic sport of shooting among students and help discover new talents who may be trained as future national shooters.

Since NYDP was formed by the PNSA under the chairmanship of Padilla four years ago, it has already produced several young internationalists.

“By reaching out to student-shooters, we hope to tap more new faces,” said Padilla.