MANILA, Philippines – Prized Filipino bowler Krizziah Lyn Tabora will miss the 2018 Asian Games this August and the 2018 QubiAMF Bowling World Cup (BWC)  in November due to undisclosed health reasons. 

Tabora told Rappler that she was advised by her doctor to rest for 6 months, which means skipping not only the continental games in Indonesia but also her World Cup title defense from November 4 to 11 in Las Vegas, USA. 

“As much as I want to bowl, medyo importanteng i-prioritize ko muna health ko,” said Tabora. 

(As much as I want to bowl, I need to prioritize my health first.) 

The World Cup champion said that she was diagnosed with an illness last June after the 50th Singapore Open. 

Coach Jojo Canare also confirmed to Rappler that Alexis Sy will replace Tabora in the Asian Games lineup that includes 2017 SEA Games teammates Marian Lara Posadas, Dyan Coronacion and Maria Liza Del Rosario. Maria Lourdes Arles and Rachelle Leon will also join the Asiad women’s team. 

Tabora brought home the country’s first World Cup title in 14 years, becoming the 5th Filipino BWC champion. She bested Malaysia’s Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman, 232-196, in the stepladder finals to clinch her first international singles championship. 

The 27-year-old bowler – who was one of the 3 Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year awardees in 2017 – fueled hopes that she would lead the women’s bowling team to a medal finish in this year’s Asian Games.  

The Philippines last topped the Asian Games bowling tournament in its inaugural edition in 1978, wining 8 medals as the women’s bowling team led by Bong Coo also accounted for 3 of the country’s 4 golds. 

The last Filipino bowler to bring home a gold in the quadrennial meet was Biboy Rivera in the singles event in 2010. – Rappler.com