Philippines women's national softball team explained

The Philippines Women's National Softball Team, nicknamed the "Blu Girls", is the national team of Philippines. They are governed by the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines. They won a bronze medal in 1970 ISF Women's World Championship in Osaka, Japan and it was their first medal won in a World Championship.

The Philippines is among the best teams in Southeast Asia having won the gold medal in every edition of the Southeast Asian Games which had women's softball event.

History

The Philippine women's team were a powerhouse in Asia never placing outside the top 10 in the global rankings during the 1970s although the Philippines always ranked behind Japan. Their greatest achievement at that time was the third-place finish at the Women's Softball World Championship in 1970. They placed fourth in the 1974 edition.^[2]

They are also a dominant force in Southeast Asia, having won all the gold medals in all editions of the Southeast Asian Games where women's softball was contested.^[2]

However, by the 1990s, the Philippine national team experienced a decline.^[2] The team competed at the 1990 ISF Women's World Championship in Normal, Illinois where they finished with 4 wins and 5 losses.^[3] At the 1998 ISF Women's World Championship in Fujinomiya City, Japan where they finished sixteenth^[4] and only managed to secure a single win. The policy of the Philippine Sports Commission of dismantling the national training pool whenever a particular sport was scrapped from the calendar of events of the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and the Olympics contributed to the women's softball team's decline.^[2]

In the 2000s, Raul Saberon, a businessman and a former men's national softball and baseball player, secured financial support for the women's softball team from Jean Henri Lhuillier, who later became head of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines.The team made a failed attempt to qualify for the 2006 Asian Games in Doha and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing though made some progress.^[2]

At the 2017 Asian Women's Softball Championship, the Philippines finished second to Japan, the best finish of the country in 45 years. In doing so, they qualified for the Women's Softball World Championship and Asian Games in 2018.^[2]

Roster

National squad for the 2014 World Cup of Softball, July 7–13, 2014.^{[5] [6]}

Head Coach: Randy Dizer

No.	Name	Position
1	Veronica Belleza	Pitcher
2	Whell Ghene Camral	Outfield, Infield
4	Annalie Benjamen	Pitcher
6	Marlyn Francisco	Outfield, Infield
8	Angelie Ursabia	Outfield, Infield
9	Francesca Altomonte	Catcher, Infield
10	Garie Blando	Outfield, Infield
11	Francesca Foti	Pitcher
12	Lorna Adorable	Outfield
17	Luzviminda Embudo	Outfield, Infield
19	Alexandra Louise Zuluaga	Infield
26	Arianne Vallestero	Infield
30	Dani Gilmore	Catcher
31	Gabrielle Rodas	Outfield
33		Infield
38	Rizza Bernardino	Pitcher
88	Elma Parohinog	Outfield
-	Alleah Laxamana	Infield
-	Isabella Ann Mendoza	Outfield
-	Jaexenne Balilea	Infield
-	Jullian Tanaka	Outfield, Infield
-	Kriska Piad	Catcher, Infield
-	Leia Ruiz	Infield
-	Staca, Lopez, Galido, Sanchez	DH, JRs

National squad for the 2017 World Cup of Softball, July 5–9, 2017.

Head Coach: Randy Dizer

Player #	Name	Position(s)
1	Garie Blando	Infield
3	Kayla Joyce	Outfield
4	Gabrielle Maurice	Outfield
5	Skylynne Ellazar	Infield
7	Riflayca Basa	Pitcher
7	Shaira Damasing	Catcher
8	Francesca Altomonte	Catcher
9	Kailey Hill	Pitcher
12	Lorna Adorable	Outfield
13	Chelsea Suitos	Infield
14	Sierra Lange	Pitcher
15	Cristy Roa	Outfield
19	Angelie Ursabia	Infield/OF
20	Mia Macapagal	Pitcher
21	Dione Macasu	Pitcher
22	Ma. Celestine Palma	Catcher
24	Dani Gilmore	Outfield
25	Reese Guevarra	Outfield
26	Arianne Vallestero	OF/IF
28	Riezel Calumbres	Infield
32	Hailey Decker	Infield
33	Kailey Cuico	Infield
42	Mary Luisse Garde	Pitcher
53	Lovely Arago	Infield
91	Lyca Basa	Pitcher

Competition results

World Cup

World Cup Record
width=5%	Year	width=5%	Position
	Did not participate
	3rd place
	4th place
	Did not participate
	5th place
	Did not participate
	12th place
	Did not participate
	16th place
	Did not participate
	Did not participate
	Did not participate
	Did not participate
	Did not participate
	14th place
	14th place
	Did not qualify
	12th place
Total	8/18

USA Softball International Cup

USA Softball International Cup Record
width=5%	Year	width=5%	Position
	Did not participate
	6th place
	Did not participate
	6th place
	7th place
	Did not participate
	8th place
Total	4/13

Asian Games

Asian Games Record
width=25%	Year	width=30%	Position
	Did not participate
	6th place
	6th place
	Did not participate
	5th place
	4th place
	4th place
	4th place
Total	6/9

Southeast Asian Games

Southeast Asian Games Record
width=25%	Year	width=30%	Position
	1st place
	1st place
	Not held
1985
	1st place
	Not held
	1st place
	Not held
1995
	1st place
	Not held
2001
2003
	1st place
	1st place
	Not held
	1st place
	Not held
	1st place
	Not held
	1st place
	Not held
Total	10 gold

External links

• International Softball Federation

Notes and References

1. News: Reyes . Lito Delos . Asaphil names new coaches for Blu Girls . 26 May 2022 . The Manila Times . 26 May 2022 . en.
2. News: Pe. Roger. PHL softball and the chase for Filipinos’ Olympic dream. 29 April 2018. Business Mirror. 29 April 2018.
3. Web site: 1990 ISF Women's World Championship . International Softball Federation . 2013 . 7 February 2014 . United States . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140225213049/http://www.isfsoftball.org/english/events/90_womens_wc.asp . 25 February 2014 .
4. Web site: 1998 ISF Women's World Championship . International Softball Federation . 2013 . 7 February 2014 . United States . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140225213044/http://www.isfsoftball.org/english/events/98_women_wc.asp . 25 February 2014 .
5. News: Terrado. Reuben. Philippine Blu Girls vie for honors in World Cup IX. 10 July 2014. Spin.ph. 2 July 2014.
6. Web site: Philippines - World Cup IX Roster. Gamechanger. 10 July 2014.