Manny Pacquiao tries his shooting skills at the CPRA firing range in barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Eight division world boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao was in town yesterday to spearhead the holding of the 1st Congressman Manny Pacquiao Challenge Philippine Shooters Match Officers Confederation (PSMOC) National Level III-Leg Competition at the Cebu Pistols and Rifles Association (CPRA) firing range in Lapu-Lapu City.
The 36-year-old former WBO world welterweight and former pound-for-pound king graced the opening of the 12-stage, three-gun shooting tournament that is named after the boxing champion.
Joining Pacquiao was Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu, who is also the PSMOC president, match administrator Bryant Yu and Pacquiao’s uncle Engr. Nestor Pacquiao, who is the tournament’s executive chairman.
“We are very proud of this event kay nakahatag mi ug chance nga matagaan ug nindot nga tournament ang mga practical shooters diri sa country,” Pacquiao said. “Honored pud mi kay ang mga pinaka maayo nga shooters nangapil pud.”
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The event actually started last Friday but was officially opened yesterday. It ends today.
The Cebu Leg is first of the three scheduled legs this year. The others are the General Santos City leg and the Manila leg.
The General Santos leg will be held on Sept. 18-20 while the Manila leg will be on Sept. 25-27. Both the General Santos City and Manila legs will be held in Pacquiao’s firing ranges.
“We are greatly honored for allowing us to become partner with Congressman Pacquiao in this event. We will encourage him to continue this event and make it an annual affair,” said Mangudadatu.
Proceeds of the shooting competition will go to Boblor Foundation, which was established by Pacquiao’s brother Bobby Pacquiao in Saranggani Province.
Bobby Pacquiao’s foundation mainly conducts medical missions in the depressed parts of the province.
“This competition was initially held only in General Santos City as part of Pacman Sports programs but we decided to come out from General Santos City and make it a national event. We are very optimistic that this will become an international event in the coming years” said Engr. Nestor Pacquiao.
The winning shooters in this leg will qualify for the final leg in Manila.