WITH no support from his association and using borrowed pistols, young shooter Carlo Valdez banked on his excellent skills and talent to buck the odds for a triumphant campaign in the just-concluded Thailand Open Shooting Championship in Bangkok, Thailand.
Former national shooter Raul Arambulo, who was in touch with Valdez’s mother-coach, Maricon, while Carlo and sister Christine Deanne saw action in the elite meet, was told that Valdez used borrowed guns in ruling the men’s 50-meter air pistol event while placing second in his pet event, the 10-meter air pistol contest.
“Carlo used guns loaned by a Thai shooting official who invited the Valdezes to take part in the tournament,” Arambulo said from the info he gathered from Mrs. Valdez.
The soft-spoken shooter scored 549 points to bag the gold in the 50-meter air pistol event and 195.4 points in clinching runner-up honors in the 10-meter air pistol event in the tournament featuring some of the best shooters in Asia.
“The Morini 162EI (used in the 10-meter air pistol event) was borrowed, too. No air guns were transported, not requiring any PTT (Permit to Transport from the PNP),” Arambulo said.
“No wonder Carlo got a silver medal in 10m Air Pistol Men…,” he pointed out, noting that Valdez shot 570 in the qualifiers and holds the national mark of 584 in the event.
“The gold in the 50-meter free pistol also was with a borrowed Morini 84E,” added Arambulo. “He went to Thailand and competed without any of his own equipment!!!”
He said the Valdezes were unable to secure the needed permits to bring their own pistols to Bangkok since the Philippine National Shooting Association was not involved with the trip.
“I mean, nobody can achieve scores like that with a borrowed gun and without a proper fitting grip in a free pistol or air pistol unless you happen to be someone as talented as Carlo,” Arambulo said.
“The grip fit, and balance of our shooting equipment is very critical and almost impossible to compete and win at that high level.”
In a separate interview, Mrs. Valdez clarified that their participation in the tournament was not supported by the PNSA or funded by the Philippine Sports Commission.
“We would like to emphasize that this trip that the team just made is not backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine National Shooting Association,” she said in a text message.
“It was only made possible through the unwavering support of the Philippine Air Force, the PAF Gun Club, close friends, and sponsored and funded by a private individual who fully believed in Team Valdez,” the elder Valdez said.
“We were there not only as the siblings’ mother but also as coach, technical official/liaison, team supporter, etc. – all-in-one — but not as PNSA Board representative,” she added “We just like to give credit where it is rightfully due.”
