AdU softbelles-laden Blu Girls flexes muscles in Canada tournament
Date Posted: July 9, 2024 at 04:22 PM
The Philippine National Softball Team composed mainly of players and alum from the Adamson Lady Falcons made waves at the Canada Cup International Softball Championship in Surrey, British Columbia, showcasing their resilience and skill despite facing tough competition last June 28 to July 7.
Their hard-fought journey, though, ended in upsetting fashion as the Blu Girls, who jumped into being currently ranked 15th in the world, concluded their campaign with a lopsided defeat in the hands of no. 10 ranked team, Australia.
The team, however, showed that they can face the best that the world has to offer, going toe-to-toe with the top international teams, highlighted by their cardiac come-from-behind victory over world no. 9 Czechia.
Down 0-3 heading into the seventh inning, four Lady Falcons led the Blu Girls in unleashing four runs to force the turnaround for the Ana Santiago-mentored lady batters.
Lyka Magbanua launched a three-run screamer that reached the stands to tie the game at 3-3. UAAP 86 MVP Angelu Gabriel, along with her San Marcelino sisters MJ Maguad and Elside dela Torre then converted crucial at-bats to punch one final run and complete the upset.
Earlier in the tournament, the Blu Girls opened strongly with consecutive 5-1 victories against New Zealand and Hong Kong. Despite subsequent losses to Canada (12-0), Israel (4-3), and Mexico (7-0), their resilience earned them a playoff spot as the fourth seed in their group.
With their campaign now over, the team looks to reset before proceeding to other competitions as UAAP softball are still expected to be held as a second semester sport to be scheduled tentatively at early 2025.
