The Blu Boys leave this week for Auckland, New Zealand for the Men’s Softball World Cup, where they play other qualifiers from other regions.
The lowest-ranked team at 21st among the 12 competing teams, including defending champion Argentina and many-time world champion United States, the Blu Boys are unfazed at the prospect of playing these teams, optimistic that they can come up with some surprises.
“There is no pressure at all for them as all their opponents are ranked higher. We are excited at the prospect of playing at the world stage of men’s softball, confident that this young team is capable of matching up with the other teams,” said ASAPHIL president and sportsman-businessman Jean Henri Lhuillier.
The team is grouped with Argentina and the United States, which the Blu Boys play on opening day on Nov. 26, together with host New Zealand, Czech Republic and Cuba.
Lhuillier’s primary objective is to improve the team’s world ranking, which it will if it does well in the tournament.
“We have played in the past against some of these teams like the United States, New Zealand and the Czech Republic and we managed to stay close to them. Our team maybe younger, but we are certainly more prepared now,” said head coach Jasper Cabrera, who took over the team following Apol Rosales’ decision to leave for personal reasons.
The team has been training for several months already, playing the best local teams available in pocket tournaments and since the team arrives in Auckland a week earlier, the Blu Boys are scheduled to play practice games against some of the other teams in the field.
Lhuillier exhorted local fans to watch the live streaming games and support the Blu Boys,” they are playing for the country and for you,” concluded Lhuillier.