DON’T LET his fatherly aura and light demeanor fool you – his accuracy and pin-point shooting still remains.

An active competitor and a former member of the National Team before becoming the mentor of the Ateneo Rifle and Pistol Team (ARPT) in 1988, Coach Danny Flores was indeed a force to reckon with in shooting during his time.

He recalled that at age 12, he got into the sport because of his father. “My dad was a shooter too, so when I saw him playing, I got interested and started to shoot,” he says in Filipino.

Although his initiation to shooting began with family ties, his fate as a coach for the Ateneo was sealed in an unexpected way. He related, “I was looking for a job when Bunny Gamboa asked me to try coaching for the team. Since I was yet to find a job, I accepted the offer.”

His uninterrupted tenure as the team’s mentor for more than 20 years is a testament to his dedication for the team and the sport. And this same dedication, if not more, he expects from his players for them to excel.

“I’m aware that not everyone who joins the team is passionate about shooting. Some join because they were influenced or join just for the benefits of being in the team,” he says.

“Eventually, though, they come to love the sport. And along with the others who initially already had a penchant for shooting, they develop the discipline, determination and initiative necessary to do well.”

For Coach Flores, shooting is unique because of the leveled playing field it presents. “In other sports, you need to be very tall or very muscular to excel. But in shooting, there is an equal opportunity to succeed,” he says in a mix of English and Filipino.

“Sa shooting, kahit ordinaryong tao pwedeng maging champion (In shooting, even the most ordinary person can turn into a champion).”