(L-R) Rodel Labayo, Ronalyn Redima Greenlees, Rosita Bradborn at the PSA Forum, March 18, 2025 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Conference Hall. Handout/PSA

MANILA, Philippines – Defending their gold medals is the primary goal of the Philippines' lawn bowls bets in the 16th Asian Lawn Bowls Championships next month.

They might be wearing bullseyes on their backs in the Philippine-hosted tiff, but head coach and tournament director Ronalyn Redima Greenlees is confident that the hosts will be up to the challenge.

Eight golds in singles, pairs, triples and fours (men and women) will be at stake in the event set 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 and China.

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 namin dito sa Pilipinas mag-three-peat,” he said during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Conference Hall.

Rosita Bradborn, on the other hand, will try to defend her title in women’s singles. She won the gold last year in Thailand after a couple of silver-medal finishes.

“Nagtiyaga kami ng husto sa training para manalo ulit,” said Bradborn

According to Greenlees, lawn bowls has 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.