Philippines women's national softball team

The Philippines Women's National Softball Team, nicknamed the "Blu Girls", is the national team of Philippines. They are governed by the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines. They won a bronze medal in 1970 ISF Women's World Championship in Osaka, Japan and it was their first medal won in a World Championship.

Philippines
Information
Country	Philippines
Federation	Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines
Confederation	Softball Confederation of Asia
Manager	Hailey Decker^[1]
WBSC World Rank	13th (31 Dec 2021)
Women's Softball World Championship
Appearances	7 (First in 1970)
Best result	3rd (1 time, in 1970)
World Cup of Softball
Appearances	3 (First in 2014)
Best result	6th (1 time, in 2014)
Asian Championship
Appearances	10 (First in 1967)
Best result	1st (1 time, in 1972)
Asian Games
Appearances	5 (First in 1998)
Best result	4th (2 times, in 2014 and 2018)

The Philippines is among the best teams in Southeast Asia having won the gold medal in every edition of the Southeast Asian Games which had women's softball event.

History

The Philippine women's team were a powerhouse in Asia never placing outside the top 10 in the global rankings during the 1970s although the Philippines always ranked behind Japan. Their greatest achievement at that time was the third-place finish at the Women's Softball World Championship in 1970. They placed fourth in the 1974 edition.^[2]

They are also a dominant force in Southeast Asia, having won all the gold medals in all editions of the Southeast Asian Games where women's softball was contested.^[2]

However, by the 1990s, the Philippine national team experienced a decline.^[2] The team competed at the 1990 ISF Women's World Championship in Normal, Illinois where they finished with 4 wins and 5 losses.^[3] At the 1998 ISF Women's World Championship in Fujinomiya City, Japan where they finished sixteenth^[4] and only managed to secure a single win. The policy of the Philippine Sports Commission of dismantling the national training pool whenever a particular sport was scrapped from the calendar of events of the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and the Olympics contributed to the women's softball team's decline.^[2]

In the 2000s, Raul Saberon, a businessman and a former men's national softball and baseball player, secured financial support for the women's softball team from Jean Henri Lhuillier, who later became head of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines.The team made a failed attempt to qualify for the 2006 Asian Games in Doha and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing though made some progress.^[2]

At the 2017 Asian Women's Softball Championship, the Philippines finished second to Japan, the best finish of the country in 45 years. In doing so, they qualified for the Women's Softball World Championship and Asian Games in 2018.^[2]

Roster

National squad for the 2014 World Cup of Softball, July 7–13, 2014.^[5][6]

Head Coach: Randy Dizer

No.	Name	Position
1	Veronica Belleza	Pitcher
2	Whell Ghene Camral	Outfield, Infield
4	Annalie Benjamen	Pitcher
6	Marlyn Francisco	Outfield, Infield
8	Angelie Ursabia	Outfield, Infield
9	Francesca Altomonte	Catcher, Infield
10	Garie Blando	Outfield, Infield
11	Francesca Foti	Pitcher
12	Lorna Adorable	Outfield
17	Luzviminda Embudo	Outfield, Infield
19	Alexandra Louise Zuluaga	Infield
26	Arianne Vallestero	Infield
30	Dani Gilmore	Catcher
31	Gabrielle Rodas	Outfield
33	Morgan Stuart	Infield
38	Rizza Bernardino	Pitcher
88	Elma Parohinog	Outfield
-	Alleah Laxamana	Infield
-	Isabella Ann Mendoza	Outfield
-	Jaexenne Balilea	Infield
-	Jullian Tanaka	Outfield, Infield
-	Kriska Piad	Catcher, Infield
-	Leia Ruiz	Infield
-	Staca, Lopez, Galido, Sanchez	DH, JRs

National squad for the 2017 World Cup of Softball, July 5–9, 2017.

Head Coach: Randy Dizer

Player #	Name	Position(s)
1	Garie Blando	Infield
3	Kayla Joyce	Outfield
4	Gabrielle Maurice	Outfield
5	Skylynne Ellazar	Infield
7	Riflayca Basa	Pitcher
7	Shaira Damasing	Catcher
8	Francesca Altomonte	Catcher
9	Kailey Hill	Pitcher
12	Lorna Adorable	Outfield
13	Chelsea Suitos	Infield
14	Sierra Lange	Pitcher
15	Cristy Roa	Outfield
19	Angelie Ursabia	Infield/OF
20	Mia Macapagal	Pitcher
21	Dione Macasu	Pitcher
22	Ma. Celestine Palma	Catcher
24	Dani Gilmore	Outfield
25	Reese Guevarra	Outfield
26	Arianne Vallestero	OF/IF
28	Riezel Calumbres	Infield
32	Hailey Decker	Infield
33	Kailey Cuico	Infield
42	Mary Luisse Garde	Pitcher
53	Lovely Arago	Infield
91	Lyca Basa	Pitcher

Competition results

World Cup

World Cup Record
Year	Position
2005–2013	Did not participate
2014	6th place
2015	Did not participate
2016	6th place
2017	7th place
Total	3/12

Asian Games

Asian Games Record
Year	Position
1990	Did not participate
1994
1998	6th place
2002	6th place
2006	Did not participate
2010	5th place
2014	4th place
2018	4th place
Total	4/5

Southeast Asian Games

Southeast Asian Games Record
Year	Position
1979	1st place
1981	1st place
1983	Not held
1985
1987	1st place
1989	Not held
1991	1st place
1993	Not held
1995
1997	1st place
1999	Not held
2001
2003
2005	1st place
2007	1st place
2009	Not held
2011	1st place
2013	Not held
2015	1st place
2017	Not held
2019	1st place
2021	Not held
Total	10 gold

References

1. Reyes, Lito Delos (26 May 2022). "Asaphil names new coaches for Blu Girls". The Manila Times. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
2. Pe, Roger (29 April 2018). "PHL softball and the chase for Filipinos' Olympic dream". Business Mirror. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
3. . United States: International Softball Federation. 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
4. . United States: International Softball Federation. 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
5. Terrado, Reuben (2 July 2014). "Philippine Blu Girls vie for honors in World Cup IX". Spin.ph. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
6. "Philippines - World Cup IX Roster". Gamechanger. Retrieved 10 July 2014.

External links

• International Softball Federation