By: Marlon Bernardino
The Philippine Blu Girls have kicked off their 2025 WBSC Women’s Softball Asia Cup campaign with a resounding statement, notching back-to-back dominant wins before running into perennial powerhouse Japan in a tough encounter to go down to fourth in the 10-nation meet in Xi’an, China.
The Filipinas opened the tournament in spectacular fashion, crushing Southeast Asian rival Thailand with a lopsided 15-1 victory on Monday.
Despite an early 1-0 deficit at the top of the first inning, the Blu Girls responded with firepower. They unloaded an explosive 11-run barrage in the bottom of the second before adding four more runs in the third.
The onslaught forced an early stoppage via the mercy rule.
Pivotal in the offensive fireworks were UAAP standout Roma Jane Cruz from Adamson University, Filipino-American slugger Nicole Hammoude, and rising star Mylia Perez, each scoring three runs.
UAAP Season 87 Finals MVP April Minanga led the charge on the mound, earning the win for head coach Ana Santiago’s squad.
Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines President and Cebuana Lhuillier CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier praised the team’s opening day performance, saying, “I am profoundly proud of our Blu Girls for their incredible performance today. Their determination and teamwork truly reflect the fighting spirit of Filipino athletes.
“This dominant victory sets a strong tone for the rest of the tournament, and we remain hopeful for even greater success in the coming games.”
Fresh off that emphatic win, the Blu Girls returned to the field on Tuesday for a double-header — and delivered a clinical 7-0 shutout against South Korea to remain in contention for a top spot.
The Philippines jumped to an early three-run lead in the first inning and sealed the win with a four-run explosion in the fifth.
The official scorecard showed the Blu Girls tallying seven runs on six hits, while their defense held Korea scoreless across all innings, allowing only three hits and forcing one error.
However, the day’s second game posed a bigger challenge as the Filipinas clashed with tournament heavyweight Japan in the afternoon.
Despite showing flashes of brilliance, the Blu Girls fell short, bowing to a 1-9 loss against a Japanese squad that registered 16 hits in a dominant display.
“I am extremely proud of our Blu Girls’ performance, especially their impressive win against South Korea,” Lhuillier said. “Even in the face of a tough loss to Japan, the team showed heart and resilience. We stand behind them all the way as they continue to fight for our country.”
The Philippines returns to action on Wednesday morning, facing India at 11:00 AM as they look to bounce back and build on their 2-1 record heading into the mid-stretch of the tournament.
