ANGELES CITY—Pampanga is becoming a major producer of world-class sports players. There is this 10-year-old golf sensation from Lubao town, who has four world junior golf titles for girls.
A Porac town-based darts champion is also making a name in the toughest international competitions.
A full-blood Capampangan is making her presence felt at international practical shooting competitions, landing fifth at the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) Handgun World Shoot XVII held from October 7 to 19 in Florida, USA.
Franchette Shayne F. Quiroz, who was born and raised in this city, held her ground against the toughest opponents from 72 countries to register the highest score for the Philippine team in the ladies’ standard division.
The 18-year-old practical shooter’s consistency and high score allowed the Philippines to snatch the third over-all finish in the group category. The Handgun World Shoot is the largest event conducted by the IPSC and only occurs every three years. Over 1,800 marksmen representing 88 countries joined the competition held earlier this month at Universal Shooting Academy in Frostproff, Florida.
Gloria Quiroz, mother of Franchette who accompanied her to Florida, said, “Had her gun not malfunctioned at the middle of the competition, she would have landed higher than fifth place.” Gloria is a native of Floridablanca town, while Franchette’s father, Ricky, is from Apalit town.
Franchette, who finished elementary and high school at the OB Montessori Center-Angeles City, said, “Focus is important, and this prevented me from landing lower than fifth place or being disqualified.”
I had to cock my gun after every shoot when it malfunctioned. I lost time and it pulled down my score. But I never gave up,” added the first-year entrepreneurship student at the University of Santo Tomas.
The Quiroz family thanked the Philippine Practical Shooting Association (PPSA) headed by Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu, Al Haj for supporting Franchette when she competed at the 2014 World Shoot.
Bringing pride
IN 2013 Franchette was first runner-up at Australasia Handgun championship held in Rotorua, New Zealand. Shortly after she and the rest of the Philippine team won several awards in New Zealand, a gun show at the SM Megamall was held. It honored five of at least 46 members of the team, including Franchette.
“Bringing Pride to the Philippines. The Young Champions,” said the huge billboards on which the photos of Franchette and the four other team members were mounted.
“What’s amazing about Franchette is that she made a name and dominated the competitions despite being active for only two years,” said businessman Ricky Quiroz, father of Franchette.
Others, Ricky added, will wait for at least five years before they can win big or start to make a name in international and local competitions.
Defeating the best
FRANCHETTE, who is fondly called “Tet,” enrolled at the Jethro Summer Workshop when she was 14. Then, as they say, the rest was history.
Franchette managed to join the Philippine Team after “only one year of serious training,” Ricky said.
He said the highlight of Franchette’s young career was when she defeated the country’s ladies standard champion of two decades.
Franchette had to hurdle the qualifying rounds in the Philippines before earning the right to join international meets, such as the IPSC and Australasia Handgun championships.
“It was emotional because both of them cried after my daughter defeated her,” Ricky said.
Franchette was taught by “the best instructors in the country” in preparation for slugging it out against the previously undefeated champion in ladies standard. They are Jethro Dionisio, Darwin Bernabe and Rico Papa, the coach of the Philippine Team.
Franchette said she had developed “her love for guns” at an early age. She added that she became interested in joining gun contests “because my father and grandfather are into it, as well.”
Ricky earlier headed a practical shooting club based in Pampanga.
Today Franchette practices at least four times a week and goes all around the country to join Level 3 competitions.
“Modesty aside, no Filipino can really defeat Franchette at the ladies standard division now. We have to join contests open to both male and female in order to improve her games and skills,” Ricky said.
Franchette said, “I need more experience to allow me to win, especially in world gun matches.”
“I am preparing hard for the next IPSC World Shoot set in 2017 at France. I vowed to be among the top lady shooters of the world,” said Franchette, who is an endorser of the Arms Corp. of the Philippines.
Ricky said he and his wife had a deal with Franchette in order for them to maintain their all-out support to her.
“Franchette must study well because practical shooting is just a hobby and sport. Education is important,” Ricky said.
Image credits: Ric Gonzales