Blu Girls open campaign vs Canada

Philippine Blu Girls. Photo from Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines’ Facebook.

The Philippine Blu Girls have settled in at the site where they’ll compete in Group C of the 2024 Women’s Softball World Cup which starts Saturday in Italy.

Social media posts of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines showed members of the Blu Girls taking part in a photoshoot before holding their first training session at Field Porpetto.

Coach Ana Santiago’s squad opens its campaign Saturday against Canada at Campo Comunale da Softball in Castions di Strada.

The Blu Girls are aiming to hurdle tough opponents in Group C in hopes of advancing to the final phase of the tournament slated next year.

Other teams the Blu Girls will face in the group are host Italy, Japan, Venezuela and New Zealand.

Following Saturday’s opener, the Filipino batters play Japan on Sunday and Venezuela on Monday at Campo Cav. Gino Michelutti in Buttrio before returning to Castions di Strada to meet New Zealand on Tuesday.

The top two teams after the round-robin will meet in the Group C final while the third and fourth placers meet in a playoff.

The Group C winner advances to the final phase of the World Cup while the loser plays the winner of the third-place playoff to determine the other team that advances to the next round.