Courtesy: ASAPHIL
The Philippine Blu Girls flew to Lima, Peru on Wednesday, July1 to compete in the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup 2026 group stage slated from July 14 to 18.
The 16-woman national batters are coming off a two-week training camp in Nagoya, Japan, where they learned new skills from top professional and collegiate players.
Tagging this as their “best-ever camp,” head coach Ana Santiago believes that this buildup will give them the additional time to prepare as they are set for scrimmages against their rivals before the tournament proper.
“Very inspired ang mga players dahil sa naranasan na training sa Japan, tingin ko the best preparation ito,” Santiago told Sports Radio. “Pangako namin gagawin ang makakaya, magbibigay kami ng magandang laban at ipakita kung gaano ka-competitive ang mga Pilipino sa world stage.”
World no.13 Philippines will face world no.16 Venezuela on the July 15 opening day before taking on world No.1 Japan the next day.
The Blu Girls are also set for a loaded July 17 schedule as they clash with world No.3 Puerto Rico and No.12 Great Britain.
The Philippines will conclude its group stage assignments against world No.18 Peru on July 18.
Comebacking catcher Francesca Altomonte spearhead the squad which also parades Royevel Palma, Roma Jane Cruz, Ma. Charlotte Sales, Maria Angelu Gabriel, Mea Tubongbanua, Reyae Mae Villamin, Glory Alonzo, Mary Joy Alpitche, Maria Victoria Magbanua, and April Mae Minanga.
Completing the team are Filipino-Americans Skylynne Ellazar, Alyssa Marie Daniel, Nicole Adra Hammoude, Sydney Vitangcol, and Mylia Perez.
The Blu Girls, who are also mentored by Rizza Bernardino, Steven Figueroa, and Anthony Santos, received a wild card in the world cup group stage after Uganda withdrew for failing to meet the participation agreement deadline.
Prior to that, the Philippines finished fourth in last year’s Women Softball Asia Cup behind Japan, China, and Chinese Taipei.
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