The RP Blu Girls qualified for the upcoming 2024 Women’s Softball World Cup after entering the Top Four of the Asia Cup in Incheon, South Korea on Thursday.
This is the Philippines’ eighth appearance in the World Cup and its first since 2018. The country did not make it in the last edition in 2022.
The Blu Girls got the job done against India earlier this morning in a 10-0 no-hitter win in just four innings at the LNG Stadium for a 5-2 record.
Meanwhile, South Korea, the lone team which still had a chance to make it in the Top Four entering the day, bowed to Japan to drop to 4-4 and out of Top Four contention.
Along with the Philippines, Japan, Chinese Taipei, and China have likewise secured their tickets to the first phase of the World Cup this July 2023.
It was University of Santo Tomas products Charlotte Sales and Celyn Ojare who did the damage for the Blu Girls against India.
Sales sent home Elsie Dela Torre with a ground-rule double at the top of the second inning for a 3-0 lead. Then Ojare hammered an inside-the-park home run down the right field, 5-0.
Sales once again delivered in the third stanza with yet another double to right center for the 7-0 advantage.
MJ Maguad, Arianne Vallestero, and Khrisha Cantor also scored runs in the fourth inning for the finishing touches.
Glory Alonzo and Kikay Palma allowed no hits in two innings pitched each while the Blu Girls peppered India with 12 hits.
The Philippines will face defending champion Japan tomorrow to end the round-robin.
