By REY C. LACHICA
Olympian Jayson Valdez has been with the Philippine team long enough to know the ins and outs in the shooting association.
Despite the latest brouhaha that engulfs the shooting association, Valdez, who saw action in the Tokyo Games, remains apolitical.
Well, that’s his true nature.
“Hindi po ako nakikialam sa kanila,” said the 28-year Valdez out of Adamson University.
So to remain sharp and totally focused at the task at hand, Valdez shied away from social media.
“I don’t usually listen and read chats and news about shooting. Since I started shooting palaging may ganun (controversy) po, pero I don’t talk about at ’di ako nakisali,” he said.
Siding to anyone in the latest drama that put the association in bad light will mean total distraction to his training since the coming Hangzhou Asia Games that starts this weekend is very important for him.
He’s dedicating his third Asian Games stint to his mother who passed away just recently.
“Well, I dedicate to this Asian Games for Mama,” said Valdez, who grew up practically in the shooting range since his father, Julius, is one of the decorated shooters during the Gintong Alay days.
Aside from having a good lineage, Valdez is lucky to have a godfather in Tac Padilla who has been very supportive since he started shooting as a teen.
Like Valdez, Padilla was also a toast of PH shooting, winning almost everything there is to win before finally going into semi-retirement to manage their family-owned cooking oil company.
“Basta when it comes to shooting Papa (Tac Padilla) is always there and ready to provide support,” added Valdez, who will compete in the men’s 10m air rifle.
