The bronze medal eluded the Philippine Blu Girls for the second straight time after falling to Chinese-Taipei, 12-2, in four innings as the women’s softball event of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games drew to a close on Saturday at Anjo Softball Ground.
Hopes of a breakthrough podium finish were quickly dashed as Chinese Taipei erupted for four runs in the first inning and eight in the second, eventually securing the lopsided victory via mercy rule.
Nicole Hammoude’s two-run homer in the third turned out to be a consolation of sorts as the Blu Girls settled for a fourth-place finish yet again in the Games.
Host Japan went on to win the gold after shutting out China, 7-0, in five innings.
The loss forced the Blu Girls to equal their finish from three years ago at the pandemic-delayed 2022 Hangzhou edition when they lost a heartbreaker to the same team for the bronze.
Coach Ana Santiago’s squad ended the campaign that was more of a rollercoaster as the Blu Girls dropped their first two games by blowout margins at the hands of host Japan and Chinese-Taipei.
Then came a come-from-behind 7-3 win over South Korea highlighted by a three-run homer from Charlotte Sales to begin a string of three consecutive triumphs, the next two at the hands of Thailand and Singapore.
After losing to China, the Philippines secured its place in the bronze-medal game with a 9-3 win over Hong Kong.