CANDON, Ilocos Sur — Despite struggling offensively, the Philippine Blu Girls put up a resilient fight against defending champion Japan before absorbing a 4-0 defeat in the 2026 Women’s Softball World Cup Group Lima on Thursday morning (Manila time) at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Complex in Peru.
World No. 1 Japan struck first in the opening inning as Saori Yamauchi ripped a double to right-center field, driving in Kyoko Ishikawa and Mayu Okawa, who both reached base on singles, for a 2-0 lead.
The Japanese added two more runs in the second inning. Ayane Nakagawa doubled home Hotaru Tsukamoto before Ishikawa followed with an RBI single that scored Nakagawa to extend the advantage to 4-0.
Blu Girls starter April Minanga was charged with all four runs after pitching 1 1/3 innings before giving way to MJ Alpitche.
The 21-year-old Alpitche, backed by a solid Philippine defense, kept Japan scoreless the rest of the contest, allowing just three hits and three walks over the remaining 5 2/3 innings.
The Blu Girls also came up with two defensive gems, cutting down Japanese runners at home plate in the fourth and fifth innings to prevent further damage.
Catcher Victoria Magbanua accounted for the Philippines’ lone hit with a double to left-center field.
Ishikawa finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk as Japan improved to 2-0 in Group Lima.
The Philippines, now 0-2, aims to bounce back in Friday’s doubleheader, taking on world No. 3 Puerto Rico at 12:00 AM (Manila time) before facing No. 12 Great Britain at 3:00 AM.
