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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Blu Girls target foreign exposures ahead of World Cup

Blu Girls target foreign exposures ahead of World Cup

Published Apr 11, 2023 05:53 am
The Philippine women’s softball team is hoping to get international exposures and bolster its preparation ahead of the 2023 World Cup slated July 22 to 26 in Italy. *From left, PH women's softball team members Celyn Ojare, Ann Antolihao and CJ Roa during the PSA Forum.*


The Blu Girls, composed of an all-Filipino lineup, earned a berth at the prestigious event after placing fourth in the recent Women’s Softball Asia Cup in Incheon, South Korea where they finished with a 5-3 win-loss record. But they needed all the exposure they could get since the World Cup is a tougher tournament. “Alam naman ng mga coaches namin na yun ang kulang,” said team captain and starting pitcher Ann Antolihao in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Tuesday, April 11. The Blu Girls are bracketed in a strong field composed of Asia Cup champion Japan, Canada, Venezuela, New Zealand and host Italy. At the World Cup, the top two teams will earn seedings to the 2024 World Cup edition. The last time the country appeared in the World Cup was in 2018 where the PH team finished 14thplace out of 16 countries. Pitcher CJ Roa said if given the chance, the team would like to have a training camp in Japan. “High-level training talaga sa Japan kahit sa tuneup games with university schools. Kaya kung bibigyan kami ng chance, sana maka-train kami sa Japan,” said Roa. “Kung tao sa tao, meron naman tayong ibubuga. Pero kailangan pa rin ng exposure para mas lalong lumakas as a team,” catcher Celine Ojare added. The World Cup will also serve as a springboard for the PH team’s preparations for the 19thAsian Games slated in August in Hangzhou, China.

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