By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippine Blu Girls settled for a fourth-place finish in the Women’s Softball Asia Cup after heavy rains forced tournament officials to cancel the medal matches on Sunday, July 20, in Xi’an, China.
The Nationals were set to face Chinese Taipei in the bronze medal match, with the final World Cup Group Stage berth on the line. Japan, which topped the eliminations undefeated, was scheduled to battle host China for the gold.
However, due to unplayable field conditions, organizers opted to base the final standings on the elimination round results.
With a 6-3 record, the Blu Girls landed in fourth place, while Chinese Taipei secured the bronze medal and the final World Cup Group Stage slot with a 7-2 slate. Japan captured the gold with a perfect 9-0 record, while China settled for silver at 8-1.
Despite the abrupt ending, Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) President Jean Henri Lhuillier commended the team’s performance and expressed hope for a wildcard entry.
The Blu Girls delivered emphatic victories in the eliminations, dominating Thailand (15-1), South Korea (7-0), India (15-0), Malaysia (14-0), Singapore (13-0), and Hong Kong (12-0). Their losses came at the hands of Japan (9-1), China (2-1) and Chinese Taipei (3-0).
