Valdez airs gratitude to ‘Daddy Tac’

MANILA, Philippines — There’s another man behind the success of Tokyo Olympics-bound air rifle shooter Jayson Valdez aside from his champion father Julius multiple Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla.

“Si Daddy (Padilla) kasi actually before pa, sabi niya sa akin focus ka lang, don’t mind anything and just listen to your father,” said Valdez during yesterday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.

“Lagi niya sinasabi kung merong problema, sabihin lang sa kanya, sobra laki tinulong niya sa amin especially sa family ko,” added Valdez, referring to Padilla, who convinced Valdez to take up the sport.

Fast forward to a few days ago, Valdez gained an Olympic slot via continental quota.

He realized his Olympic dream through the proddings of his two “fathers” – Papa Julius and Daddy Tac, champion shooters with a combined haul of eight gold medals in the SEA Games.

“Even before I made the shooting team, lagi akong ini-invite sa bahay ni Dad kasi me mga anak siya na shooters din na kapatid ang turingan namin,” said Valdez. “From the start, siya na nag support sa akin. Binigyan niya ako ng gamit, baril. Every competition, binibigyan niya ako ng support kaya noon pa lang, tawag ko na sa kanya Dad.