Philippines bets chance : Brian Rosario

Source : AKTV

Skeet shooter Brian Rosario still remembers what it was like when his father first introduced him to the sport. As a 12-year-old, he used to tag along with dad Paul when the elder Rosario went to the shooting range.



“Sumasama-sama lang ako sa papa ko noon,” Rosario recounted. “Taga-pulot lang. Syempre pag pumuputok ka, may basyo diba? Kinukuha ko lang yun, pinaglalaruan ko. Tapos ayun na, na-in love na ako sa sport.”

He’s come a very long way from the little boy that used to play with casings. In a few days time, the 29-year-old Rosario will be completing what has been a shared dream between him and his father: shooting in the Olympic Games.

Rosario, named by Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA) president Mikee Romero as the current top Filipino shooter, was granted a wildcard sport to the competition by the International Shooting Sport Federation last May.

And while qualifying for the London Games is a feat in itself, Rosario vowed to make the most of the opportunity and shoot for the country’s first Olympic gold.

Rosario has shot in the 120s — the minimum qualifying Olympic score — six times since the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and a repeat of that in London could put him in position to bring home some hardware for the Philippines.

“I did that in the World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia. I’ve also done it a couple of times here, locally,” he said of the 120 score.

“Kung maulit ko yun, yun na ang pag-asa natin.”

Whether he comes home with a medal or not, though, one thing is for sure — Rosario has made his father, the man who introduced him to the sport of shooting, proud.

“Ito yung number one na pangarap naming mag-ama, ultimate goal namin. He’s very happy.”