By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippine Blu Girls suffered a crushing 11-0 defeat to powerhouse Australia, in a loss that ended their campaign disappointingly in the 2024 Canada Cup International Softball Championship over the weekend in Surrey, British Columbia.
The Australians unleashed their might in the second inning by scoring 10 runs that all but broke the backs of the Nationals.
The Blu Girls barely made it to the playoffs after winding up with a 2-3 win-loss record in the group stage where they triumphed against New Zealand and Hong Kong via identical 5-1 scores while bowing to more experienced squads like Canada (12-0), Israel (4-3) and Mexico (7-0).
They showed their might against Czechia, stunning their higher-ranked rivals with a 4-3 upset victory in the playoffs before getting sent crashing back to earth by the Australians.
An upset win over Australia could have earned them a second playoff match against Mexico.
Despite the setback, Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) Presiden Jean Henri Lhuillier lauded the efforts of the Blu Girls.
