SECOND BEST. A group photo of Team Philippines taken during the awarding ceremony of the 15th Asian Lawn Bowls Championships in Pattaya, Thailand on March 10, 2024. The group is composed of (front row, left to right) Andrea Abatayo, Ronald Lising, James Andia, Elmer Abatayo and Angeleca Abatayo, (standing left to right) Sharon Hauters, Marisa Baronda, Ainie Knight, Leo Carreon Jr., Angelito Barro, coach Ronalyn Greenlees, manager Rosever Pascua, Philippine Lawn Bowls Association President Benito Pascual II, coach Chris Dagpin, Hommer Mercado, Rodel Labayo, Hazel Jagonoy, Rosita Bradborn and Sonia Bruce. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – The Philippines had another successful campaign at the 15th Asian Lawn Bowls Championship which was held from March 3-10 in Pattaya, Thailand.
The Filipinos were second overall with three gold, one silver, and three bronze medals, improving their three-gold and two-bronze finish in Ipoh, Malaysia last year.
Rosita Bradborn outclassed Thailand's Thaddaow Phandaech, 21-15, in the women's singles final, while Sharon Hauters, Ainie Knight, and Hazel Jagonoy defeated Malaysians Nurul Alyani Jamil, Syafiqa Haidar Afif Abdul Rahman, and Nur Farah Ain Abdullah, 19-14, to claim the women's triples title.
Elmer Abayato and Rodel Labayo defended the men's pairs title after pulling off a 16-11 victory over Thailand's Sarawut Vongjunsal and Anuruk Rodmanee in the championship round.
The women fours of Marisa Baronda, Hauters, Knight, and Hagonoy settled for the silver medal, bowing to Malaysians Aleena Ahmad Nawawi, Nur Ain Nabilah Tarmizi, Syafiqa Hajdar Afif Abdul Rahman and Nur Farah Ain Abdullah, 11-16.
Those who bagged the bronze medals were Bradborn and Baronda (women's pairs), Elmer Abatayo (men's singles) Homer Mercado, Leo Carreon, and Ronald Lising (men's triples).
The Philippines was crowned overall champion in the women's division after earning 38 points, followed by Malaysia (31), India (27), Hong Kong and Thailand (24), Japan (22), Singapore (20), Sri Lanka (18) and Macau (10).
In the men's division, the Philippines and India both have 35 points, behind Malaysia (44), and Hong Kong (36). Thailand has 30 points followed by Singapore, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Korea with similar 24 points, while Macau and Iran have 12 points each.
"It was a great performance and we're happy with the results," said former Philippine Lawn Bowls Association (PLBA) president and now coach, Ronalyn Greenlees, in an interview on Monday.
"It also helped that for the first time since 2000, three PLBA officials joined the delegation. Our president, Benito Pascual II, hosted a nice dinner to relax the players before the competition. John Higo, our treasurer, and board of director Rosever Pascua, who acted as our manager, usually we don't have officials with us, I'm the only one who stands up for everything. This time, there are officials with supporters who spent their time and money to support the players," shared Greenlees, a Level 2 international coach.
"We would like to thank the PLBA officials, especially our president and the Philippine Sports Commission and their staff as well as the office of Commissioner Walter Torres for their endless help. Also to the Philippine Sports Institute staff - nutritionist and sports psychologist - for providing help via Zoom while we were in Thailand, and the Petanque national team for their support. They are our partners in our success," added Greenlees, who won the women's fours bronze medal with Bradborn, Hagonoy and Sonia Bruce at the 2016 World Outdoor Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Angeleca Abatayo won the gold in the Under 25 girls singles but medals won in the juniors division were not counted in the overall tally.
Meanwhile, Malaysia has again emerged as the overall champion after pocketing three golds (men's singles, men's triples, and women's fours), two silvers, and two bronzes.
India was third with two golds (men's fours and women's pairs) and three bronzes followed by Hong Kong (0-3-3), Thailand (0-2-2), Japan (0-0-2), and Singapore (0-0-1).
A total of 12 countries, including Brunei, joined the tournament held at the Thai Lawn Bowl Greens (seniors) and Coco Indoor Bowls Club (juniors). (PNA)
