Cebuano sharpshooter bags another championship title

Shines bright as LAG-PSG mainstay in World Shoot Qualifier

CEBU, Philippines —   He promised to give his best shot every time he competes under the banner of Laguna Practical Shooters Group (LAG-PSG), his mother gun club that is home to some of the country’s best practical shooters.

It’s been pretty good so far for the multi-titled Cebuano marksman Roygbiv ‘Roy’ Barro.

Firing on his targets with pinpoint accuracy, Barro came out as champion in the junior category and fifth overall in the tough standard division during the 3rd SND Delfin N. Lorenzana Cup, a Level 3 competition that is a World Shoot Qualifiers staged over the weekend at the TPSAI Firing Range in T’boli, South Cotabato.

A week earlier, Barro placed second in the junior class and fifth in the standard category in the Sedric Cup 2020, a Level II event held at the MMPSA Firing Range in Plaridel, Bulacan.

Barro’s back-to-back accomplishments earned him praises from no less than the man who recruited him into LAG-PSG’s fold, its president Grand Master Alfredo “Jun Catz” Catalan Jr.

“Roy is fast improving because of our advanced trainings,” said Catalan. “Getting into the top 5 spot, with 90 percent from world-class shooter Genesis Pible, which is also one of our members, in just 3 weeks time of practice. He beat a lot of shooters who are already decades into this sport. Imagine what will he achieve months or year from now. This kid is very exciting. He is a fast learner.”

Barro, who celebrated his 20th birthday last Monday (March 9), humbly admitted that he did not expect to fare that well because a bunch of elite shooters across the country are joining in the four-day tilt.

“I was pressured because there’s a lot of good shooters who are taking part in the competition being a world qualifiers, but at the same time I was grateful to God that I am now part of this prestigious event,” said Barro. “My main motivation is that I am now part of one of the most elite practical shooters group in the whole Philippines. I don’t want to put shame on LAG-PSG’s name on my first  world qualifier match.”

Barro, who received a special citation from the Sportswriters Association of Cebu during the San Miguel Brewery-backed 37th SAC-SMB All-Cebu Sports Awards last February 29 at SM City-Cebu, is very grateful to his LAG-PSG comrades for their valuable tips and insights that helped him attain his most recent feat.

“I felt satisfied (with my performance) because all the rigid training that I had and the intelligent tactics and inputs that were imparted to me by the members of LAG-PSG for the last 3 weeks didn’t go to waste,” said Barro, who also plays football for De La Sale University in Manila. “But again, these achievements are all temporary. I need to move forward.”

With his remarkable performance in T’Boli, Barro brightened up his chances to form part of Team Philippines for the IPSC Word Shoot XIX on November 28 to December 5 in Pattaya, Thailand.

Up next for Barro is the National Range Officers Institute (NROI) Championship, which is also a PPS Level 3 world qualifier  match on March 26-29 in Lipa City, Batangas.