Philippine Blu Girls clash with Singaporeans

The Philippines resumed its campaign Monday against Singapore in the quarterfinals of the 10th Asian Women’s Softball Championship at the Ciaoguang field in Nantou, Taiwan.

The Blu Girls are heavily favored over the Singaporeans, whom they clobbered in their last meeting in the Southeast Asian Games four years ago in Thailand.

Once ranked third in the world, the Blu Girls ended up with a 4-4 card in Pool A after taking a no-bearing 1-5 loss to Japan at the end of the eliminations Sunday.

Japan led the Pool A quarterfinalists at 6-0 followed by South Korea (5-1) and North Korea (4-2).

The Singaporeans (3-2) emerged the third qualifier in Pool B behind No. 1 qualifier China (5-0) and host Chinese Taipei (4-1).

The Japanese, second to the United States at the last world championship, battle the Taiwanese, while the Chinese and the South Koreans tangle with the North Koreans and the Indonesians, respectively, at Derhsin field.

The Blu Girls, three-time silver medalists in this tournament that started in 1967, are hoping to secure one of three slots to the world championship next year.

The Philippines last played in the world championship in 1990 in Normal, Illinois.

Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier is funding the Blu Girls’ trip here along with the Philippine Sports Commission.