The Cebuana
Lhuillier-backed RP Blu Girls kept their historic medal hopes alive at the 20th
Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, defeating Hong Kong, China, 9-3, on October
2 at the Anjo Softball Ground. The victory puts the Filipinas in position to
battle Chinese Taipei for the bronze medal on October 3, giving the national
team another opportunity to secure its first-ever Asian Games softball medal.
The Philippines has finished fourth in each of the previous three editions of
the Games.
Amateur Softball
Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) President and Cebuana Lhuillier
President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier praised the Blu Girls for keeping their
medal dream alive and continuing to fight after the setback against China.
“This is the opportunity we have been working and fighting for. The Blu Girls
have shown tremendous resilience throughout this tournament, and now they have
the chance to make history for Philippine softball. 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 said.
The Blu Girls
generated plenty of offense against Hong Kong, finishing with 10 hits. Ma.
Angelu Gabriel led the way with three hits, an RBI, and two runs in four
at-bats, while Roma Jane Cruz delivered a key performance with two hits and a
team-high three RBIs. Reyae Mae Villamin drove in two runs, while Nicole Adra
Hammoude and Skylynne Kopia Ellazar each drove in one run. Team captain Ma.
Charlotte Sales scored twice, with Alyssa Marie Daniell, Mea Tubongbanua, Mylia
Isabel Perez, and Villamin also crossing home plate.
Royevel Palma anchored
the Philippines in the circle with six scoreless innings, limiting Hong Kong to
four hits while striking out three without issuing a walk. Glory Alonzo entered
in the seventh, with Hong Kong managing three runs, before Mary Joy Alpitche
recorded the final out with a strikeout to secure the 9-3 victory.
The win also provided
an immediate response to the Blu Girls’ 7-0 loss to the People’s Republic of
China on October 1. The defeat snapped the Philippines’ three-game winning
streak against Korea, Thailand, and Singapore and ended its bid for a place in
the gold-medal game, but the team remained in contention for a spot in the
bronze-medal playoff.
The Blu Girls now turn
their attention to Chinese Taipei on October 3, with a bronze medal and a
chance to make Philippine softball history on the line. The matchup offers a
chance for redemption after the Filipinas fell to Chinese Taipei, 10-1, earlier
in the preliminary round. More importantly, a victory would finally push the
Philippines onto the Asian Games podium after three consecutive fourth-place
finishes in 2014, 2018, and 2022.