THE Philippines’ sharpshooters hit the targets at the Southeast Asian Shooting Championships, securing a haul of two gold and one bronze—in the Compak Sporting events held in Photharam, Thailand.
The day belonged to Carlo Baltonado and Jed Rivilla, who both claimed individual gold medals in their respective categories after high-stakes duels on the range.
Baltonado showcased his composure and accuracy in topping the men’s compak sporting event.
The victory was far from easy, requiring Baltonado to outperform his regional rivals in a tense shoot-off. He managed to successfully fend off formidable competitors from Malaysia and Vietnam to capture the top podium spot.
“It was a tight competition, especially going into the shoot-off,” Baltonado said following his win. “You have to block everything out and trust your training. This gold medal is for everyone back home who believes in us.
In the men’s open compak sporting event, Rivilla clinched the second gold for the Philippines in a deeply competitive international field.
Rivilla demonstrated exceptional control, finishing just one clay target ahead of Australia’s seasoned shooter, Nigel Montgomery. He also maintained a couple of clays lead over the home crowd favorite, Pat Euarchukiati of Thailand, proving the Filipino team can compete and win against non-Southeast Asian contenders.
The trio of Baltonado, Richard Gomez and Joaquin Ancheta combined efforts to bag the bronze medal in the men’ team compak sporting.
