Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
RIDING on the heels of the Filipinas’ historic first victory at the Women’s Football World Cup on Tuesday in New Zealand, the Blu Girls came back to life and scored back-to-back wins at the Women Football World Cup in Italy early Wednesday (Manila time).
The Philippines, ranked 26th in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, lost its first three games in Group C against No. 5 Canada (0-5), No. 2 Japan (0-13) and No. 22 Venezuela (1-5) but bounced back with come-from-behind wins over No. 29 New Zealand (5-3) and No. 8 Italy (6-5).
That win against the host country catapulted the Philippines in the playoffs for third place against Italy, which finished the group phase with a 3-2 record.
Had Italy won, the Italians would have taken the top spot in the group.
As it is, Japan and Canada ended up tied for first place with identical 4-1 records and will clash for the group C crown early Thursday.
The winner of the Philippines-Italy match will face the loser of the Japan-Canada duel in the repechage where a spot in the eight-team final round is at stake.
New Zealand and Venezuela, tied with 1-4 records, will play in the placement game for fifth and sixth in the group.
“A sensational victory against world’s number 8 Italy in the Women’s Softball World Cup 2023 Group Stage,” said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines President Jean Henri Lhuillier.
“I’m confident the Blu Girls can do it again in the battle for third place.”
In Group A play in Ireland, USA thrashed Great Britain, 7-0, in the final while Australia outplayed the same Great Britain team in the repechage, 4-1.
In Group B action in Spain, Puerto Rico outplayed China, 2-1, in the final before China lost the repechage game to the Netherlands, 2-0.
Italy, by virtue of being the host country, automatically gets a berth in the final eight of the World Cup.
Defending champion United States and Australia will also advance from group A as well as China and the Netherlands from group B.
The sixth slot is for the group C champion, and the seventh slot is for the repechage winner.
The eighth and last berth in the finals slated for next year will be given to a wildcard team.
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