ROYEVEL Palma redeemed herself from an opening day setback to China with a masterful handling of South Korea, leading host Philippines to a 5-2 victory on Wednesday for a seat in the page system finals of the Asian 19-Under Women Softball at the Clark International Sports Complex in Pampanga.
Defending champion Chinese Taipei overpowered India, 16-0, while Korea bounced back with a 15-3 rout of Malaysia.
Chinese Taipei wound up with a 5-1 card, while China and the Philippines hold identical 4-2 marks to complete the cast in the page system finals.
Korea and Malaysia ended up with 2-4 slates followed by Thailand (1-5) and India (0-6).
The page system finals will be held tomorrow at 1 p.m. with Japan facing Taiwan and China taking on the host squad.
The winner in Japan-Chinese Taipei match will take a bye with the loser facing the winner between China and Philippines. The victor will clash with the top team in a winner-take-all match. The loser in the China-Philippines duel automatically places fourth.
Chise Yamashita yielded one hit and one error in the initial inning and retired three Thai batters to complete a four-inning romp, Japan’s fourth abbreviated win in six matches.
Only China and Chinese Taipei managed to score runs against Japan in the tournament held under the auspices of Softball Federation Asia and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
The Philippines placed third in 1997 behind Japan and China and finished second in 2004 topped by Japan in South Korea.
A veteran of two World Series in 2013 and 2014 in Oregon, the 17-yearold Palma stunned the Koreans with a deadly combination of riser and curve balls as the Junior Blu Girls claimed their fourth win in six outings while dealing Korea its fourth setback against two wins.
“I really prepared hard for this game and I don’t want to disappoint my coach. I also wanted to atone for that loss to China,” said Palma.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
