New Philippine skeet team shines in Taipei tournament

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the overwhelming obstacles, the Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA) skeet team bagged two medals in the Southeast Asian Shooting Association Championships held Oct. 22 and 24 in Taipei.

The rejuvenated Phl skeet team, supported by newly elected PNSA president Gov. Luis Chavit Singson, won the silver medal for the team event and bronze in the men’s individual. 

After an 11-year absence, 26-year old Enrique Leandro Enriquez, fresh from Canada, returned to the sport just in time for the victory with teammates Joaquin Miguel Ancheta and Paul Brian Rosario.

After beating teams from other ASEAN countries, the trio faced Team Chinese Taipei for the gold and lost by a slim margin.

“It’s still a sweet victory for us, winning two medals after a five-year drought. We are thankful to Gov. Chavit who spent his own money to rescue the PNSA from more troubles,” said coach Darius Alexis Hizon.

Singson, himself a shooting enthusiast, encouraged all members of the shooting community to bury the hatchet and forget the previous internal struggles in the PNSA.

“Let us move forward and prepare for the upcoming 2019 SEA Games,” said Singson, who settled the P500,000 unliquidated funds of PNSA.

For their part, Enriquez, Rosario (winner of individual bronze) and Ancheta dedicated the victory to teammate Renzo Suntay who passed away recently.