Tac, Jethro, young guns aim for top 3 finish

Bannered by young guns and veteran shooters, the Philippine shooting team begins its quest for a top three finish as the shooting events in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games get underway today at the Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA) ranges in Taguig and Muntinlupa.

Athens Olympian Jethro Dionisio and veteran internationalist Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla will once again lead the way for the Philippines as it tries to improve on its sixth place finish in the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam. Jaime Recio and Eric Ang are also suiting up again for the national team, adding depth and experience to a squad expected to top their five-medal haul in Vietnam.

Dionisio, Recio and Ang teamed up to win the country’s lone gold medal in Vietnam and the troika is raring to defend the crown in the team trap event. They will also compete in the individual trap events while Padilla, another SEA Games old hand, will compete in the rapid fire, center fire and standard pistol events.

SEAG veterans Emerito Concepcion (air rifle) and Carolino Ganzales (free pistol and air pistol) will be back for the RP squad to be backstopped by actor Richard Gomez, who will also compete in the standard shotgun after meeting the PNSA standards during the recent qualifiers.

On the distaff side, Gay Coral and Aimee Gana will see action in the team trap with the duo tipped as a potential medal-winner after the teaming up to break the SEAG trap record during the RP team qualifiers last July 30. Also in the RP roster are promising female pistol shooters Marly Llorito and Anna Lou Quinanola.

However, a top three finish remains a tough task for the RP shooters, according to rifle coach Bartolome Tayab, who expects perennial powerhouse Thailand and Malaysia to figure prominently in the chase for the overall crown in the sport.

Vietnam SEAG multi-medalists Jakkrit Panichpatikum and Tavarit Majcharcheep will again spearhead Thailand’s bid while Malaysia’s Hasli Izwan Amir Hasan is back to spoil the fancied bets’ bid in the rapid fire, center fire and standard pistol events.

Tayab added that a third place finish would be a realistic goal for the Nationals even as he expects Singapore and Indonesia to crowd the favorites for top honors in various events.

Still, the RP shooters remain confident and are raring to show their wares as they wrapped up their training sessions at the PNSA Shooting Range in Taguig. — With report from Karlo Pineda