Philippines women's national softball team

Philippines
Information
Country Philippines
FederationAmateur Softball Association of the Philippines
ConfederationWBSC Asia
ManagerHailey Decker[1]
WBSC World Rank 19 3 (31 December 2024)[2]
Women's Softball World Cup
Appearances7 (First in 1970)
Best result 3rd (1 time, in 1970)

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.

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.[3]

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.[3]

However, by the 1990s, the Philippine national team experienced a decline.[3] The team competed at the 1990 ISF Women's World Championship in Normal, Illinois where they finished with 4 wins and 5 losses.[4] At the 1998 ISF Women's World Championship in Fujinomiya City, Japan where they finished sixteenth[5] 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.[3]

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.[3]

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.[3]

Roster

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

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[a]
Year Position
1965 Did not participate
1970 3rd place
1974 4th place
1978 Did not participate
1982 5th place
1986 Did not participate
1990 12th place
1994 Did not participate
1998 16th place
2002 Did not participate
2006 Did not participate
2010 Did not participate
2012 Did not participate
2014 Did not participate
2016 14th place
2018 14th place
2022[b] Did not qualify
2024 12th place
Total 8/18

USA Softball International Cup

USA Softball International Cup Record[c]
Year Position
2005–2013 Did not participate
2014 6th place
2015 Did not participate
2016 6th place
2017 7th place
2018 Did not participate
2019 8th place
Total 4/13

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
2022 4th place
Total 6/9

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

Honors

PSC Women in Sports Awards

Notes

  1. ^ World Championship until 2018
  2. ^ The World Games tournament also serves as the World Championship
  3. ^ World Cup of Softball until 2017

References

  1. ^ Reyes, Lito Delos (26 May 2022). "Asaphil names new coaches for Blu Girls". The Manila Times. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  2. ^ "The WBSC Women's World Ranking". WBSC. 31 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Pe, Roger (29 April 2018). "PHL softball and the chase for Filipinos' Olympic dream". Business Mirror. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  4. ^ "1990 ISF Women's World Championship". United States: International Softball Federation. 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  5. ^ "1998 ISF Women's World Championship". United States: International Softball Federation. 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  6. ^ Terrado, Reuben (2 July 2014). "Philippine Blu Girls vie for honors in World Cup IX". Spin.ph. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  7. ^ "Philippines - World Cup IX Roster". Gamechanger. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  8. ^ "Philippines Women's National Softball Team honoured with Women in Sports Award". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
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