THE road to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics begins Friday, August 3, as the Philippine Blu Girls compete for the WBSC XVI Women's Softball World Championship 2018 from August 2 to 12 in Chiba, Japan.
Among the brave Blu Girls are Negrense Pulcher Ezra Jalandoni, fielder Lyka Basa and catcher Celestino Palma -- all former standouts of multi-titled Domingo Lacson National High School in Bacolod City.
Also in the RP IX coached by Randy Dizer are Lorna Adorable, Cheska Altomonte, Mary Ann Antolihao, Dianne Arago, Arlyn Bautista, Garie Blando, Shaira Damasing, Sky Eleazar, Reese Guevarra, Sierra Lange, Mia Macapagal, Nicole Posadas, Racel Palumbres, Janet Rusha, Cristy Joy Roa, Chelsea Suitos, Angelus Ursabia and Arianne Vallesteros.
The Blu Girls are in Group A with top seed United States of America, Chinese Taipei, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and South Africa.
Host Japan is lumped with Canada, Australia, Italy, China, Great Britain, Venezuela and Botswana.
The Philippines will take on South Africa today for their initial match.
Jean Henri Lhuillier, ASAPHIL president and Cebuano Lhuillier president and CEO, said the Blu Girls are the stronger team ever assembled as they consistently defeated the top 10 teams of the world last year.
ASAPHIL has been in the forefront of promoting softball in the country and enhancing the skills of the national team by sending them to international competitions.