Teener shatters RP shoot mark

MANILA, Philippines - Teenager Jayson Valdez continued his climb to Philippine shooting stardom as he set a new national record in the men’s 10-meter air rifle competition at the PSC/Marines range in Fort Bonifacio last Sunday.

The 15-year-old Valdez, a third year high school student of Malate Catholic School, fired 595 points to beat veteran Emerito Concepcion, in the process erasing Concepcion’s five-year-old mark of 594.

A product of the National Youth Development program, Valdez also made it to the Philippine team to the coming Asian Games together with reigning Southeast Asian Games rapid fire champion Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla and Mark Lorenz Manosca, another NYDP performer.

“Jayson will definitely go far in his event,” said Padilla, who has been supporting Valdez in his young career.

Padilla, son of former Olympian Mariano “Tom” Ong and general manager of their family-owned Spring Cooking Oil, also thanked the Philippine Olympic Committee for including NYPD products Valdez and Manosca in the RP team. Tac recalled that the POC also included NYDP shooters Shanin Gonzales, Ruth Ricardo and Mica Padilla on the RP squad to last year’s Laos Southeast Asian Games.

Manosca, 18, qualified in the men’s 10-meter air pistol event. He tallied 562 points to edge many-time RP bet Carolino Gonzales by one point and Ronald Robies by three.

Valdez finished 16 points ahead of third-placer Allen Pinlac who was followed by John Cymon Concepcion (570), Filbert Tan (556) and Dr. Allen Librojo (531).

Irish Palma ruled the women’s 10-meter air rifle tiff with 381. She was followed by Venus Tan (379), Aiane Lim (358), Andrea Faustman (356), Cherry Calvelo (350) and Sam Ty (348).