Blu Girls hope to get ‘bronzed’ in Asiad

MANILA, Philippines—The Blu Girls are going for the bronze and even that seems a tall order.   An acknowledged power in Southeast Asia, the RP women’s softball team faces a formidable field led by two-time champion Japan in the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.   Officials said the RP Blu Girls are currently training against the RP Blu Boys to sharpen their skills and find ways to break the Japan-Chinese Taipei-China top three finish in the last two Asiads.   The last time the country saw action in the Asiad was in 2002 Busan where it wound up sixth behind South Korea and North Korea.   Japan is the reigning Olympic champion, while Chinese Taipei is bronze medalist behind silver-winner United States.   But Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines secretary general Danny Franciso said the Philippines will be out there fighting. The team is composed of eight veterans and newcomers who just came from recent Little League World Series campaigns.   There will be six pitchers in the rotation made up of veterans Syrel Ramos, Joy Lasquite, Cora Sobere and Dione Macasu, and rookies Julie Marie Muyco and Veronical Belleza.   Also in the team are catcher Lovelyn Maganda, Esmeralda Tayag, Sherylou Valenzuela, Sarah Jane Agravante and rookies Alexandra Luise Zuluaga, Elma Parohinog, Marlyn Francisco, Kristine Marie Drilon, Joan Pioquinto, Francisca Altomonte and Anavic Jugos. Longtime mentor Ana Santiago is the coach.