The Philippine Blu Boys gather together on the pitcher’s mound prior to the commencement of the third inning in their quest for third place against Hong Kong in the 12th Men’s Softball Asia Cup on Wednesday, June 28, in Kochi, Japan. ASAPHIL PHOTO captures the moment.
MANILA — The Philippine Blu Boys have successfully qualified for the World Cup. In the 12th Men’s Softball Asia Cup held in Kochi, Japan, the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed team dominated Hong Kong with a 7-0 victory, securing the bronze medal.
This achievement also earned them the third and final spot available for the Men’s Softball World Cup.
The Japanese and Singaporean teams have already claimed the first two World Cup slots, competing for the Asian title at the time of this report. Jean Henri Lhuillier, President of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (Asaphil), expressed immense pride in the Blu Boys’ performance, highlighting the role of their passion in achieving victory. Asaphil is thrilled to support the team as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup, acknowledging the hard work they put into reaching this stage.
The national team, comprised of talented athletes such as John Israel Antonio, Jerome Bacarisas, Leo Barredo, Denmark Bathan, Melvin de Castro, Lyonas de Leon, Juliuz de la Cruz, Mark Janzen Gaspi, Francis Generoso, John Norwen Lucas, Efril Ian Mercado, Micheal Pagkaliwagan, Reagan Parco, Gerone Riparir, Justine John Rosales, and Kenneth Torres, showcased their exceptional skills during the tournament. The coaching duties were handled by Jasper Cabrera and Isidro Abella.
With the Blu Boys’ qualification, Asaphil will now send four teams to the World Cup organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The Philippines had already secured spots in the Women’s Softball World Cup, Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball World Cup, and the Women’s Under-15 World Cup, further enhancing the country’s presence in international softball competitions.
(ai/mtvn)