Blu Girls target another gold as softball makes SEA Games return

Posted by ReyFort Media

MANILA — The Philippine women’s softball team is determined to extend their dominance in the Southeast Asian Games, as their sport is set to make a comeback in Thailand after being excluded from the program in the past two editions.

The Blu Girls won gold when Manila hosted the biennial meet in 2019, but could not defend their crown in the Hanoi and Cambodia SEA Games in 2022 and 2023. 

Nonetheless, head coach Ana Santiago assured that their hunger to win did not diminish.

“Nothing less than the gold ang goal natin,” said Santiago during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The Blu Girls are a force to reckon with in the SEA Games, and are once again expected to figure in the battle for the gold. Since 1979, they have won 11 gold medals in the biennial event.

“That’s why we are so happy na nakabalik sa SEA Games and softball. Our team is ready. Alam namin kung ano ang goal,” said Santiago, who will be coaching the Blu Girls for the fifth time in the regional showcase.

She was joined in the forum by team captain Charlotte Sales (third base) and outfielder Roma Cruz, who is also the team’s biggest hitter.

Sales and Cruz are both first-timers in the SEA Games but expressed their readiness to perform along with the 14 other members of the team, including three Fil-Americans and two holdovers of the 2019 team.

“Malaking bagay ‘yung training camp namin (in Taiwan). Nakatulong sa teamwork, communication and ‘yung samahan,” said Sales in the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus

In the last Asian Cup in China last July, Cruz bagged the Most Homeruns award with five and helped the Blu Girls qualify for the 2026 Asian Games with a fourth-place finish. 

“Kahit first time ko sa SEA Games, gusto ko din ipakita na kaya ko makipagsabayan,” said Cruz.

The Blu Girls defeated Indonesia for the gold in 2019 but Santiago sees Singapore as perhaps the biggest threat this time. 

The Blu Girls will take on the Singaporeans in their first game on Dec. 15, followed by Malaysia on Dec. 16 and a double-header against Thailand and Indonesia on Dec. 17. The gold medal match is set for Dec. 20.

“Sa tingin ko ngayon Singapore ang kalaban. Grabe ang preparation nila. They went to Australia, Japan and Taiwan,” added Santiago.

“But our marching orders from Asaphil (Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines) president John Henry Lhuillier is double-gold (including men’s softball). So, ‘yun ang goal,” she said. (abs-cbn News)