At A Glance
- The Philippine Blu Girls gun for a strong finish at the Women's Softball Asia Cup scheduled on July 14 to 20 at the Xi'an Physical Education University Softball Stadium in China.
The Philippine Blu Girls gear up for the World Softball Asia Cup. (ASAPHIL)
The Philippine Blu Girls gun for a strong finish at the Women’s Softball Asia Cup scheduled on July 14 to 20 at the Xi’an Physical Education University Softball Stadium in China.
The tournament draws participation from some of the region’s bests that include Japan and Chinese Taipei, and serves as a qualifier to the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup and the 20th Asian Games both slated next year.
It also serves as a test event for the team’s participation in the Southeast Asian Games set in Thailand later this year.
Under their coach Steven Figueroa, a former Major League Baseball player, the team is in deep training for the weeklong meet that also has South Korea, Hong Kong, India and Southeast Asian Games rivals Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) president Jean Henri Lhuillier is confident of the country’s chances.
“I firmly believe that these young women, with the right blend of dedication and support, can bring the Asia Cup trophy home,” said Lhuillier.
“We’ve seen their talent and heart. Now it’s our mission to give them everything they need to succeed,” he added.
Backed by Cebuana Lhuillier, the Blu Girls will play in a preliminary single round robin competition with the third and fourth-ranked teams battling for the bronze medal, and the Top 2 teams facing in the finals.