HANOI, Vietnam — Former world champion Engelberto Rivera gave the Philippines its first medal by winning the bronze in the men’s singles in bowling in the 3rd Asian Indoor Games Monday at the Saigon Super Bowl Center in Ho Chi Minh City.

Rivera, fresh from his triumph in the recent Jakarta Open of the Asian Bowling Federation, shared third with Jasim Darwish of Kuwait.

Naif Oqal Al-Abdla of United Arab Emirate defeated Rivera, 219-194, in the semifinals and edged Korean Choi Bok Eum, 222-219, in the final.

Choi defeated Darwish, 289-226, in the other semifinal match.

Rivera’s medal finish came a day after women boxers assured the country of at least two more bronze medals.

Bantamweight Annie Albania and light flyweight Josie Gabuco hurdled their quarterfinal assignments in swashbuckling fashion Sunday.

Albania stopped Taiwan’s Meng Chieh Pin of Macau in the third round while Gabuco mauled Weng Chang Cho of Macau, 20-2.

On Monday’s semifinals, Albania faces Chhoto Luora of India while Martinez meets four-time world champion Mary Kom of India.

Making her debut is light welterweight Mitchell Martinez who is seeking a spot in the gold medal bout against Vui Nguyen Thi of Vietnam.

Twelve countries are entered in women’s boxing. Besides the Philippines, the others are Vietnam, Thailand, China, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka, India, Macau, Japan, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Kazakhstan.

Also to see action Monday is the muay thai team made up of Jay Harold Gregorio, Zaidi Laruan and Maricel Subang.