THE ATENEO Rifle and Pistol Team (ARPT) found their range as they brought home nine medals in various divisions in the recently concluded first Spring Cooking Oil National Youth Shooting Championship organized by the Philippine National Shooting Association on September 13 and 14 in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

A collective effort of three golds, three silvers, and three bronzes were earned by the Shooters of Blue and White, who faced competition from various teams around the Metro Manila area.

Aldric Tolentino (IV BS Psy), Filbert Tan (II AB Eco), and Julian Ragragio (III BS MAC) completed a podium sweep of the Men’s Air Rifle with jacket (21 and under). JC Uybarreta (IV AB Psy) also took home the other gold medal in the same category.

Tolentino turned in 480 to outdo teammates Tan (475) and Ragrago (285), while Uybarreta posted 671.3 to trim Alfonso Hermoso (662.5).

The Men’s Air Pistol (21 and under) was also a successful stint, as Carl Siy (II AB MEco) and Allan Azurin (IV AB MEco) brought home the silver and bronze, respectively.

“Great potential”

“It exceeded my expectations since two of our shooters (Uybarreta and Ricardo) on that day set new personal records. Both shooters showed great potential to possibly become part of the national team and hopefully a chance to compete internationally,” Tolentino said.

“The ARPT swept most events on that day which I would say is a great accomplishment,” he added.

In the distaff side, Ruth Ricardo (III AB MEco) took the team’s lone gold medal in the Women’s Air Pistol (25 and under). Adding to the medal haul were Chrina Caballero (II BS ME) and Yan Fang Zhu (II AB MEco), who took the silver and bronze in the Women’s Air Pistol without Jacket (21 and under).

The tournament, organized by the National Youth Development Program and sanctioned by the Philippine National Shooting Association was headed by former Olympian Art Macapagal.