THE Philippine lawn bowls bets will have bullseyes on their backs when the country hosts the 16th Asian Lawn Bowls Championships next month.
But head coach and tournament director Ronalyn Redima Greenlees is confident the hosts will be up to the challenge in defending the gold medals in the men’s pair and women’s singles events.
Eight golds in singles, pairs, triples and fours (men and women) will be at stake in the event set for April 27 to May 4 at the Clark Bowling Greens in Clark, Pampanga.
Twelve countries will field entries – including Malaysia, Iran, Brunei, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Macau, South Korea, China and the Philippines.
Rodel Labayo, back-to-back gold medalist in the pairs event along with partner Elmer Abatayo, said winning a third straight gold is their primary objective.
“Gusto naming ditto sa Pilipinas mag three-peat,” he said in yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Conference Hall.
Rosita Brad born will defend her title in women’s singles. She won the gold last year in Thailand after a couple of silver-medal finishes.
“Nag-tiyaga kami ng hustosa training para manaloulit,” said Bradborn during the public sports program backed by San Miguel Corporation, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, Smart/PLDT, MILO, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.
According to Greenlees, lawn bowls have been in the country for over two decades and was played in the 2019 Manila SEA Games where the hosts won one gold, three silver and two bronze medals.
Unfortunately, the sport that was born in Great Britain was not included in the calendar of the Thailand SEA Games in December.
Greenlees said Filipinos are ranked No. 10 in the world and have had victories in the Asia-Pacific level.
“Kilalana kami samundo. DitolangsaPilipinashindi,” she said, citing the full support of the Philippine Sports Commission and the Clark Development Corporation for the hosting of the Asian meet. “Full support sila,” she said.
