Olympic dream ends as PH Blu Girls yield to Australia in Tokyo qualifying

PH Blu Girls. WBSC PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines’ Olympics hopes are over after it absorbed a 7-0 beating from Australia in the Super Round of the WBSC Softball Asia/Oceania Qualifiers Friday at Shanghai Chongming Sports Training Center.

After a huge win over New Zealand on Thursday, the Blu Girls couldn’t get it going against the Australians and were forced to kiss their dreams of making it to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics goodbye.

“Our errors cost us the game,” said Blu Girls coach Venerando Dizer. “Our defense was nothing like when we played New Zealand [when we won 1-0].”

Ann Antolihao had a strong start to the game, allowing just one hit in the first three innings but Australia scored twice in the bottom of the fourth with veteran Olympian Stacey Porter hitting a double deep into center field.

Australia then loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth scoring three more runs for the 5-0 lead.

“It’s disappointing but we still have a game against Chinese Taipei and we want to finish among the top two Asian teams to qualify for the World Games in Birmingham in 2021,” added Dizer.

The Filipinos face Chinese Taipei on Saturday in the last day of the tournament.