The Philippines bounced back from an opening-day loss to defending champion Japan with back-to-back victories over Cuba and Great Britain on Wednesday, moving into solo third place in the 2027 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup at the ASPAC Secondary Stadium in Taiwan.
After falling to Japan, 3-0, on Tuesday, the Filipinas made history twice in one day, blanking Cuba, 6-0, in the afternoon before defeating fellow debutants Great Britain, 6-2, later in the day.
The victory over Cuba marked the Philippines’ first-ever win in Women’s Baseball World Cup history.
Against Cuba, Christine Bautista turned in a strong start on the mound, allowing just one hit over four innings to keep the Cubans scoreless.
The Philippines immediately took advantage of an error in the bottom of the first, with Richelle Toledo reaching base before scoring the country’s first-ever World Cup run on a base hit by Martine Francisco.
The Filipinas then broke the game open with a five-run fourth inning.
Angel Bedaño started the rally with a walk before the Philippines used aggressive baserunning and a series of well-placed bunts to pile on the runs.
Helga Campos reached on a fielder’s choice before Madaelene Domaug and Chastene Jover delivered consecutive bunt singles to bring home Campos and Bedaño. Nica Velasco followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Jover, while Mae Langga’s single brought Toledo home for the final run of the frame.
Bautista shut the door on Cuba in the top of the fifth before handing the ball to the bullpen as the Philippines completed the historic shutout.
The Filipinas carried that momentum into their meeting with Great Britain, striking for four runs on four hits in the opening inning.
Francisco doubled to left field to drive in Toledo and Velasco, while Ivy Capistrano and Shyla Celis followed with back-to-back doubles to give the Philippines a commanding early advantage.
The Filipinas added another run in the second when Cassandra Inot scored on a wild pitch, before Erika Fernandez scored in the fourth on Bedaño’s sacrifice bunt.
Great Britain finally got on the board in the bottom of the second after Darier Malone reached on a throwing error and eventually scored on Bethany Casson’s fielder’s choice.
The British added another run in the third when Amy Trask singled home Laura Hirai, cutting the deficit to 5-2.
But Nichole Padasas kept Great Britain from mounting a comeback, working through four innings before Jojielyn Lim took over in the fifth.
The Philippines held Great Britain scoreless in the final two innings to secure their second historic victory of the tournament.
The Filipinas’ two wins came a day after their World Cup debut against powerhouse Japan.
Japan took a 3-0 lead after four innings, with Miyu Shimizu dominating the Philippine hitters by striking out the first eight batters she faced and pitching three perfect innings.
Japan scored once in the first inning before adding two more runs in the second and fourth.
The game was then suspended after four innings because of a lighting and mechanical issue. With the game passing 11 p.m. local time, Japan was declared the 3-0 winner.
Despite that setback, the Philippines quickly regrouped Wednesday and now sits alone in third place after making an emphatic mark in its first-ever Women’s Baseball World Cup appearance.
