The Philippine national softball team vies for an Olympic berth in the Women’s Softball World Championship starting Aug. 2 in Chiba, Japan.
Catcher Cheska Altomonte said the players are in high spirits and like their chances against the best in the world.
“Our team has beaten a lot of teams in the top 10 in the world before and I think that if we are all playing our best, we can repeat that. We prepared for these tournaments and we’ve grown as a team with all the international tournaments we’ve played together,” said Altomonte.
An Olympic berth is at stake in the competition which is one of the four international qualifiers sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation.
“The Blu Girls are the strongest national team ever assembled and they have shown it last year by consistently beating the top 10 teams in the world,” said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier in a published report.
The girls have prepared hard and hope to reap the rewards of all their hard work of the past year.
“The team is very excited to be playing together again as a whole since those based in America have come to train in the Philippines before flying out to Japan,” said Altomonte.
The tournament champion gains the Olympic berth. But if host Japan— already seeded to the 2020 Olympics as host—wins the tournament, the second placer will gain the Olympic spot.
“Only one slot (champion of the tournament) will be open for Tokyo 2020 so it’s going to be tough for us. We will be having another qualifying tournament next year where I believe our chances will be stronger,” said Altomonte.
The next Olympic qualifier is the Asia/Oceania Qualifying Event in 2019. The top six teams from the Asian Softball Championship and the top two squads from the Oceania Softball Championship will vie for a seat in the Tokyo Olympics.
Other members of the team include: Lorna Adorable, Mary Ann Antolihao, Dianne Arago, Layca Basa, Arlyn Bautista, Garie Blando, Shaira Damasing, Sky Eleazar, Reese Guevarra, Ezra Jalandoni, Sierra Lange, Mia Macapagal, Nicole Padasas, Celestine Palma, Racel Palumbres, Janet Rusha, Cristy Joy Roa, Chelsea Suitos, Angelie Ursabia, and Arianne Vallestero. Coach is Randy Dizer.
After the world championships, the team goes after a medal in the Asian Games set August 18 to September 2 in Indonesia.