PH Blu Boys solider on in Prague

June 22, 2019

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ASAPHIL President Jean Henri Lhuillier poses with the RP Blu Boys at the stadium where the team will play.

 

ORIGINAL STORY

 

The Philippines continued to struggle in the ongoing XVI World Baseball & Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men’s Softball World Championship 2019 in Prague, Czech Republic.

But Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) president and softball patron Jean Henri Lhuillier is confident the lessons learned by the Blu Boys in this tournament will “provide the boys with the needed experience to become a world-class team three to five years from now.”

 

“We have to be patient with our Blu Boys same with what we did with our Blu Girls. Look at the women’s team now. They are beating countries ranked in the top 10 in the world. We have the same vision for our Blu Boys,” Lhuillier said after the Blu Boys bowed to world’s No. 5 Argentina, 15-0, Sunday night.

The Philippines came close to scoring a breakthrough win in the XVI World Baseball & Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men’s Softball World Championship 2019 in Prague, Czech Republic but once again fell short against the host team on Wednesday.

The Blu Boys surrendered two runs in the seventh and last inning and bowed to Czech Republic, 4-1, in this prestigious tournament participated in by 16 of the top softball nations in the world.

After three scoreless innings both teams scored in the fourth. Czech Republic made two runs courtesy of David Mertl and PatrikKpecny before Ernesto Binarao singled in Jerome Bacarisas for the first and only run for Philippines.

Despite the setback, Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) president and softball patron Jean Henri Lhuillier is pleased with the way the Blu Boys played. “The team is playing better and the experience has been good for them. We have to be patient with our Blu Boys,” said Lhuillier, who flew to Prague to personally support the team.

Lhuillier also met with Andrea D’Auria, a member of the WBSC Coaching Commission, and described the meeting as “helpful for the further development and growth of both the Blu Boys and the BluGirls.”

The Blu Boys, ranked 17th in the world, will next face defending champion New Zealand.

Pacing Group A is Asian champion Japan (5-0) followed by Argentina (4-1). Tied for third place are Cuba and New Zealand (3-2) while trailing closely behind are Czech Republic and Mexico (2-3). At the bottom are Botswana (1-4) and the Philippines (0-5)

Group B is led by Canada (5-0) followed by Australia (4-1), Venezuela (4-1), USA (3-2); Denmark (2-3); The Netherlands (1-4) Singapore (1-4) and South Africa (0-5).

Tags: Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines, ASAPHIL, Blu Boys, Czech Republic, Jean Henri Lhuillier, Men’s Softball World Championship, Philippines, Softball