Blu Girls eye world slot in Asian elims

MANILA, Philippines - A place in the top three or a qualifying spot to next year’s world championships is what the Philippine national women’s softball team is aiming for when it competes in the 14th Women’s Softball World Championship Asian qualifier later this month in Chinese Taipei.

“Ten of them saw action in the Phl team that won the gold in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia. As a team they have been together since August. They’ve got the strength of youth and are quick. Some of them have also competed in the World Series,” said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (Asa-Phil) operations manager and delegation head Ismael Veloso in last Friday’s PCSO-SCOOP-Sa-Kamayan Restaurant ni Ermita, Manila. “Hopefully they do well and advance tothe world.”

The Blu Girls will be competing against defending Asian champion and 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medalist Japan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong and host Chinese Taipei.