The Philippine Blu Girls opened their campaign in the 2026 Women’s Softball World Cup Group Lima on a losing note, falling to Venezuela, 8-5, early Wednesday (Manila time) at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Complex in Peru.
Starting pitcher Kikay Palma looked sharp through the first two innings, allowing just one walk while retiring the other six Venezuelan batters she faced.
However, World No. 16 Venezuela broke the game open in the third inning. Five singles and a walk fueled a four-run outburst, giving the South Americans a 4-0 lead and forcing Palma out of the pitching circle.
The World No. 13 Blu Girls responded in the bottom of the fourth. Roma Cruz sparked the rally with a triple before Alyssa Daniell drove her home with a single to center field to make it 4-1.
Daniell and Ma. Victoria Magbanua later scored as Angelu Gabriel ripped a two-run triple into the right-center gap, trimming the deficit to just one run, 4-3.
Venezuela, however, regained control with another four-run inning in the sixth. Diana Arcay highlighted the surge with a pinch-hit, three-run home run to left-center field for a 7-3 advantage before Veronica Antequera Silva added an RBI single down the right-field line to score Eila Infante from second base, extending the lead to 8-3.
The Blu Girls refused to go away, with consecutive singles from 19-year-old Mylia Perez and Skylynne Ellazar helping cut the deficit to 8-5 in the bottom of the sixth. That proved to be the Philippines’ final rally.
The Filipinas threatened once more in the seventh after Daniell doubled and Charlotte Sales drew a walk, bringing captain Cheska Altomonte to the plate as the potential tying run. However, Altomonte flew out to right field to end the game.
Venezuelan shortstop Daryelin Rivas Chavez finished 3-for-4 at the plate, while Antequera Silva reached base three times.
Daniell paced the Blu Girls with three hits, while Ellazar and Perez added two hits each.
Among the four pitchers used by head coach Ana Santiago, only Glory Alonzo escaped without allowing a hit or a run, surrendering just one walk over 1⅓ innings.
The Philippines will look to bounce back on Thursday but faces a daunting challenge against defending champion and World No. 1 Japan at 6 a.m. (Manila time).
All six teams in Group Lima will compete in a single round-robin format, with the top four advancing to the knockout stage. The two finalists will secure berths in the 2027 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals in Redcliffe, Australia.
World No. 3 Puerto Rico, No. 12 Great Britain, and No. 18 host Peru round out Group Lima.
