The hopes and expectations are high for the Philippine women’s softball team, also known as the Blu Girls, when it tries to defend the gold medal in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
But coach Ana Santiago, who’s in her fifth SEA Games, said the goal remains the same for the Blu Girls, who last won the gold in the Manila hosting of the biennial meet in 2019.
“Even if there was no softball in the last two SEA Games (Hanoi and Cambodia), ‘yung hunger to win hindi naman nawala. Nothing less than the gold ang goal natin,” Santiago said during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
The Blu Girls are a force to reckon with in the SEA Games, and are once again expected to figure in the battle for the gold. Since 1979, they have won 11 gold medals in the biennial event.
“That’s why we are so happy na nakabalik sa SEA Games and softball. Our team is ready. Alam namin kung ano ang goal,” added Santiago, who was joined in the forum by team captain Charlotte Sales (third base) and outfielder Roma Cruz, who is also the team’s biggest hitter.
Sales and Cruz are both first-timers in the SEA Games but expressed their readiness to perform along with the 14 other members of the team, including three Fil-Americans and two remnants of the 2019 team.
“Malaking bagay ‘yung training camp namin (in Taiwan). Nakatulong sa teamwork, communication and ‘yung samahan,” said Sales in the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus
In the last Asian Cup in China last July, Cruz bagged the Most Homeruns award with five and helped the Blu Girls qualify for the 2026 Asian Games with a fourth-place finish.
“Kahit first time ko sa SEA Games, gusto ko din ipakita na kaya ko makipagsabayan,” said Cruz.
The Blu Girls defeated Indonesia for the gold in 2019 but Santiago sees Singapore as perhaps the biggest threat this time.
The Blu Girls will take on the Singaporeans in their first game on Dec. 15, followed by Malaysia on Dec. 16 and a double-header against Thailand and Indonesia on Dec. 17. The gold medal match is set Dec. 20.
“Sa tingin ko ngayon Singapore ang kalaban. Grabe ang preparation nila. They went to Australia, Japan and Taiwan,” added Santiago.
