October 26 ------ The Philippines advanced to the super round of the Under-15 Women’s Softball World Cup after finishing third in the group stage in Tokyo, Japan. The Blu Girls finished with a 2-3 win-loss record following their latest 6-4 defeat against Brazil, at the Stegaya City Okura Sports Center Baseball Ground but still caught the last bus into the crucial six-team phase.
Only the Top 3 from each of the two groups will advance to the super round with powerhouse United States and Puerto Rico bagging the first two tickets in Group B with their 5-0 and 4-1 marks. The Cebuana Lhuillier-backed PH crew actually finished with identical 2-3 slates with Czech Republic and Brazil, but gained the last berth after tiebreaks were applied.
The other three teams advancing to the next stage were powerhouse Japan, which finished with a flawless 5-0 mark, Chinese Taipei (4-1) and Mexico (3-2). All six teams will carry over their respective opening round head-to-head records. As a result, Japan and USA (2-0) will start the Super Round on top of the standings, followed by Puerto Rico and Chinese Taipei with 1-1 records. Mexico and the Philippines will have a 0-2 record following group play.
The Blu Girls will first take on Japan on Thursday, Oct. 26, followed by Chinese Taipei on Friday, Oct. 27, and Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 28. The Top 2 teams after the super round will compete for the title. “Some of the opponents that the girls have faced have been difficult. However, I believe that with the right amount of determination and grit, our girls can still finish strong. We only need to have faith,” said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) President Jean Henri Lhuillier of the Blu Girls, who are also supported by Philippine Airlines.
Source: mb.com.ph
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