The Philippine Blu Girls bowed to defending champion and world number two Japan, 10-0, in the semifinal round of 2019 Asia Cup Women’s Softball Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Blu Girls, ranked 13th in the world, rotated three of its best pitchers — Ezra Jalandoni, Royevel Palma and Lyca Basa — in the game, but the Japanese proved too much offensively and defensively for the Filipina softballers.
“Japan showed why they are considered a softball powerhouse not just in Asia but in the world,” said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier. “We still have a lot of work ahead of us for us to be at par with Japan and ASAPHIL will undertake that.”
The Blu Girls, however, will play for the bronze medal on Tuesday against No. 6-ranked Chinese Taipei.
Japan will also defend the crown on Tuesday against No. 8-ranked China, which blanked Chinese Taipei, 4-0, in the other semis match.
By virtue of reaching the semis, the Philippines attained a slot in the WBSC Softball Asia/Oceania 2019 Qualifying Event for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to be played in Shanghai, China on Sept. 24 to 29.
The winner of that tournament will earn the right to compete in the 2020 Olympics when softball will be played for the first time since 2008.