JAKARTA - The Philippine Blu Girls booked a slot in the stepladder semifinals of the softball competition with two big wins Monday over Korea, 5-3, and China, 1-0, in the 18th Asian Games here.
The Blu Girls outhit Korea in the afternoon to set up a huge duel with erstwhile unbeaten China, ranked ninth in the world, in the nightcap
The game against China was scoreless through four innings as both teams displayed good defense. Hailey Decker broke the ice in the fifth, giving the Blu Girls a 1-0 lead by scoring off a single by Garnet Blando after reaching third base on her own hit thanks to a pair of Chinese errors. The Blu Girls then played superb defense in the bottom of the fifth, not allowing any Chinese player to reach first base.
In the sixth, Arianne Vallestero had a chance to add to the lead but was left stranded on third base. The Blu Girls again didn't allow a runner to reach first base in the sixth to keep their slim lead entering the seventh inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, after Kaith Jalandoni walked Xi Kailin, coach Randy Dizer brought in Sierra Arlyna Lange to the mound. Xi reached second base on a sacrifice hit by Ren Min. Blando then caught Xu Jia's fly ball for the second out. Another fly ball from Liu Yining was also caught by Blando, sealing the win for the Blu Girls, who whooped it out on the field.
"It's big for our campaign," Dizer said as the team improved to 3-0 in the seven-team field. "We prepared for our game against Korea, because I told the kids if we win against Korea, we have one step into the playoffs. After we won against Korea, I told them there's no pressure. That first game had pressure because that win is very important."
Dizer credited his team for raising their level of play, especially after he was disappointed by their performance Sunday night in their 7-0 win against Hong Kong.
"This time the team stuck to the plan," he said. "Everything we talked about came out."
The Blu Girls next face Olympic champion and top seed Japan before facing Indonesia and Chinese Taipei. Dizer feels good about their chances against winless Indonesia, and is hoping they can get one more win against either Japan or Chinese Taipei to assure themselves of a podium finish.
"The only way we can assure that (medal) is by beating either Chinese Taipei or Japan and we will end up number 2. The worst scenario is bronze."