The national women’s softball team aims to recover its hopes for a podium finish as it face powerhouse Chinese Taipei today for the bronze medal in the XX Asia Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls closed the preliminary round with a 9-3 victory over Hong Kong on Friday and now vies for third honor over the Chinese team at the softball ground of the Anjo City Comprehensive Sports Park.
The Filipinas will have a chance to redeem themselves from the 1-10 preliminary round setback against the same team last Thursday and give the Philippines its first ever medal in Asian Games softball.
The Philippines finished fourth in each of the previous three editions of the Asian Games.
Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASA-Phil) president Jean Henri Lhuillier praised the Blu Girls for keeping their medal dreams alive and continuing to fight after the setback last September 27.
“This is the opportunity we have been working and fighting for,” Lhuillier enthused.
“The Blu Girls have shown tremendous resilience throughout this tournament and now they have the chance to make history for Philippine softball,” he added.
In the previous edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, the Philippines lost the bronze medal match against Chinese Taipei.
“We know Chinese Taipei will be a tough opponent, but I believe in this team’s heart, preparation, and determination. We are behind them all the way as they give everything they have for that historic medal and for the country,” Lhuillier asserted.
Against Hong Kong, the Philippines was led by catcher-shortstop Maria Angelu Gabriel who finished with three hits, a run-batted-in (RBI) and two more runs in four at-bats.
Outfielder Roma Jane Cruz added two hits and a team-high three RBIs while infielder Reyae Mae Villamin drove in two runs for the Blu Girls.
Pitcher Royevel Palma also struck six scoreless innings for the Philippines, limiting Hong Kong to four hits while striking out three without issuing a walk.
The Philippines finished the classification round in fourth place with a 4-3 win-loss record.
