SKIPPER Cheska Altomonte is savoring the feeling as the Blu Girls reached the playoffs before bowing out of the Softball World Cup Group Stage in Italy.
The Blu Girls, who are on the uptick after a prolonged hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, came up with a fine performance in the Italy just as the Philippine women’s national football team competed in the World Cup in New Zealand.
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“It’s an honor,” Altomonte said. “It makes me so happy because we get to show what the Filipina athletes can do.”
The Filipina batters dazzled on the world stage with a dramatic win over hosts Italy in the final game of the opening round, 6-5, to move on to the playoffs.
Though the Blu Girls ultimately failed to repeat over Italy in the knockout stages, Altomonte saw the campaign with optimism for the Philippines.

“Softball has really been competitive on the world stage. We've reached rank 11 [in the World] previously. And we're now 26th because of the pandemic and we haven't been able to compete in international tournaments,” said Altomonte.
“But I think Philippine softball has a lot of potential and a lot of potential for Filipina athletes to be really, really good at.”
Altomonte, also Vice Chair of the Philippine Olympic Committee’s Athletes Commission, hopes for the current program to be maintained, while also developing one in the grassroots.
“I think it's important that we retain our current players. So, the peak for softball is in their thirties maybe, around 28 to 36, that's according to Japan and USA, because that's the age when you begin to master the skill of softball and we also have a lot of tournaments played at that age. So, I think that's very important to create a program that would allow our athletes to stay for that many years,” she said.
“I think it's also important to develop a grassroots program, and I think what Asaphil is focusing on is really developing the homegrown talent because those are the consistent players they can get, it's important also for us to pull in our Filipino-American athletes because they elevate the play.” she added.
The Blu Girls will be competing in the Asian Games in China where they hope to build off of their run in the World Cup to a medal in the regional tournament.
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