The Philippines women's national softball team, nicknamed the Blu Girls, is the national team of Philippines. They are governed by the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines. They won a bronze medal in 1970 ISF Women's World Championship in Osaka, Japan and it was their first medal won in a World Championship.
The Philippines is among the best teams in Southeast Asia having won the gold medal in every edition of the Southeast Asian Games which had women's softball event.
History The Philippine women's team were a powerhouse in Asia never placing outside the top 10 in the global rankings during the 1970s although the Philippines always ranked behind Japan. Their greatest achievement at that time was the third-place finish at the Women's Softball World Championship in 1970. They placed fourth in the 1974 edition.
They are also a dominant force in Southeast Asia, having won all the gold medals in all editions of the Southeast Asian Games where women's softball was contested.
However, by the 1990s, the Philippine national team experienced a decline. The team competed at the 1990 ISF Women's World Championship in Normal, Illinois where they finished with 4 wins and 5 losses. At the 1998 ISF Women's World Championship in Fujinomiya City, Japan where they finished sixteenth and only managed to secure a single win. The policy of the Philippine Sports Commission of dismantling the national training pool whenever a particular sport was scrapped from the calendar of events of the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and the Olympics contributed to the women's softball team's decline.
In the 2000s, Raul Saberon, a businessman and a former men's national softball and baseball player, secured financial support for the women's softball team from Jean Henri Lhuillier, who later became head of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines.The team made a failed attempt to qualify for the 2006 Asian Games in Doha and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing though made some progress.
At the 2017 Asian Women's Softball Championship, the Philippines finished second to Japan, the best finish of the country in 45 years. In doing so, they qualified for the Women's Softball World Championship and Asian Games in 2018.
The Philippines clinched their tenth straight SEA Games title in the 2019 edition of the regional games before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the program. By around the 2023, the rebuilding process of the Philippine national team began.
Roster National squad for the 2014 World Cup of Softball, July 7–13, 2014.
Head Coach: Randy Dizer
No. Name Position 1 Veronica Belleza Pitcher 2 Whell Ghene Camral Outfield, Infield 4 Annalie Benjamen Pitcher 6 Marlyn Francisco Outfield, Infield 8 Angelie Ursabia Outfield, Infield 9 Francesca Altomonte Catcher, Infield 10 Garie Blando Outfield, Infield 11 Francesca Foti Pitcher 12 Lorna Adorable Outfield 17 Luzviminda Embudo Outfield, Infield 19 Alexandra Louise Zuluaga Infield 26 Arianne Vallestero Infield 30 Dani Gilmore Catcher 31 Gabrielle Rodas Outfield 33 Morgan Stuart Infield 38 Rizza Bernardino Pitcher 88 Elma Parohinog Outfield - Alleah Laxamana Infield - Isabella Ann Mendoza Outfield - Jaexenne Balilea Infield - Jullian Tanaka Outfield, Infield - Kriska Piad Catcher, Infield - Leia Ruiz Infield - Staca, Lopez, Galido, Sanchez DH, JRs
National squad for the 2017 World Cup of Softball, July 5–9, 2017.
Head Coach: Randy Dizer Player #NamePosition(s)1Garie BlandoInfield3Kayla JoyceOutfield4Gabrielle MauriceOutfield5Skylynne EllazarInfield7Riflayca BasaPitcher7Shaira DamasingCatcher8Francesca AltomonteCatcher9Kailey HillPitcher12Lorna AdorableOutfield13Chelsea SuitosInfield14Sierra LangePitcher15Cristy RoaOutfield19Angelie UrsabiaInfield/OF20Mia MacapagalPitcher21Dione MacasuPitcher22Ma. Celestine PalmaCatcher24Dani GilmoreOutfield25Reese GuevarraOutfield26Arianne VallesteroOF/IF28Riezel CalumbresInfield32Hailey DeckerInfield33Kailey CuicoInfield42Mary Luisse GardePitcher53Lovely AragoInfield91Lyca BasaPitcher
Competition results World Cup World Cup RecordYearPosition 1965 Did not participate 1970 3rd place 1974 4th place 1978 Did not participate 1982 5th place 1986 Did not participate 1990 12th place 1994 Did not participate 1998 16th place 2002 Did not participate 2006 Did not participate 2010 Did not participate 2012 Did not participate 2014 Did not participate 2016 14th place 2018 14th place 2022 Did not qualify 2024 12th place 2027 QualifiedTotal 8/19
USA Softball International Cup USA Softball International Cup RecordYearPosition2005–2013 Did not participate2014 6th place2015 Did not participate2016 6th place2017 7th place2018 Did not participate2019 8th placeTotal4/13
Asia Cup Asia Cup RecordYearPosition 1967 2nd place 1969 2nd place 1972 1st place 1987 4th place 1991 4th place 1995 4th place 1999 Below 4th place 2004 5th place 2007 4th place 2011 4th place 2017 2nd place 2019 4th place 2023 4th place 2025 4th placeTotal 16/16
Asian Games Asian Games RecordYearPosition 1990 Did not participate 1994 1998 6th place 2002 6th place 2006 Did not participate 2010 5th place 2014 4th place 2018 4th place 2022 4th place 2026 QualifiedTotal6/9
Southeast Asian Games Southeast Asian Games RecordYearPosition 1979 1st place 1981 1st place 1983 Not held 1985 1987 1st place 1989 Not held 1991 1st place 1993 Not held 1995 1997 1st place 1999 Not held 2001 2003 2005 1st place 2007 1st place 2009 Not held 2011 1st place 2013 Not held 2015 1st place 2017 Not held 2019 1st place 2021 Not held 2023 2025 1st placeTotal 11 gold
Honors PSC Women in Sports Awards Citation: 2025 Notes
References
External links International Softball Federation