The national team can gauge its progress against the strong foreign field vying in the ongoing Philippine International Open Tenpin Bowling Championships in preparation for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games slated in Thailand in November.

Bowling legend and commissioner Bong Coo of the Philippine Sports Commission said this was why top players from as far as Ireland, Australia and the Middle East plus regional neighbors Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore were invited to see action in the blue-ribbon competition.

"We want to prepare our national bowlers well for the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games so the Philippine International Open is the first step in their build-up for the event," Coo, the former Philippine Bowling Federation president, noted.

She said that this was also the reason why the PBF, through the assistance of the PSC, hired crack American coach Joseph Slowinski to prepare the Filipino bowlers for the AIMAG, set from 17 to 26 in the Thai capital of Bangkok and province of Chonburi, and other future international tournaments.

Filipino bowlers acquitted themselves well in the last AIMAG edition held five years ago in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

They bagged a pair of silver medals courtesy of Kenneth Chua in the men's singles and women's team event with the squad composed of Lara Posadas-Wong, Krizzia Tabora-Macatula, Liza del Rosario and Alexis Sy.

A three-time world champion and Bowling Hall of Famer, Coo said the Nationals were also scheduled to compete in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand after the PIO kegfest supported by the PSC and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation in their buildup for the AIMAG.

Meanwhile, the standings virtually stayed the same in the tournament held at the Coronado Lanes inside the Starmall in Mandaluyong that is also backed by Senators Bong Go and Sonny Angara.