Rob Andrew Dongiapon

Filipino women once more. 

RP Blu Girls is back on the world stage, securing a seat in the upcoming 2024 Women’s Softball World Cup after finishing in the top four of the Asia Cup in Incheon, South Korea. 

Photo Courtesy of Tiebreaker Times

The Blu Girls salvaged a 10-0 rout of India last Thursday in only four innings to give the Philippines its fifth win of the continental tilt, good enough for a World Cup ticket. 

Despite bowing out to defending champion Japan in the final game of the preliminaries, the Philippines’ 5-3 record remains one game above hosts South Korea, who wrapped up the tourney at 4-4 and missed the World Cup entry. 

Blu Girls, then, failed to capture a podium finish, yielding to Chinese Taipei, 5-10, in the battle for bronze two days later. 

Even then, the Philippines took the wildcard berth for fourth-placers given to Asia as they rounded up the Asian cast of the World Cup alongside Chinese Taipei, Japan, and China. 

This will be the country’s eighth Women’s Softball World Cup appearance after not advancing in 2022. The last time the Philippines was in the same stage was in 2018. 

Some marquee names who proved vital in the Blu Girls’ campaign were University of Santo Tomas products Charlotte Sales and Celyn Ojare. 

Sales delivered a ground-rule double for Elsie Dela Torre in the second inning, before Ojare converted a home run in the right field and a double at right center to bury India, 7-0 

Arianne Vallestero, Glory Alonzo, Khrisha Cantor, Kikay Palma, and MJ Maguad are among those who played pivotal roles for the Blu Girls in the tournament. 

The RP Blu Girls are set to play in the group stage of the World tournament on July 11 to 26 in Dublin, Ireland. 


Edited by Jostle Doen Pilayre