Bannered mostly by veteran internationalists, the Blu Girls will be put to a test against fancied China, which placed fourth in the last edition of this quadrennial meet for women 19 years old and below, at 12 noon right after a simple opening ceremony before an expected crowd of 3,000 mostly Chinese students of the river city.
Manila Congressman and softball president Harry Angping (Fifth District), head of the 23-man RP delegation, is optimistic of the team’s chances.
"The Chinese are strong but it does not mean they’re unbeatable," said Angping, who thanked the Philippine Sports Commission, Century Tuna, Oishi and Liwayway Marketing, Cathay Pacific Steel, Ambassador for Chinese Affairs John Ng, Adidas, Dowell Packaging, Larry Villareal, Colours, Philippine Gaming Corp. and China Water, Inc.
"May tsamba," he added.
Spearheading the RP campaign is the pitching tandem of Esmeralda Tayag and Gedda Valencia, who is expected to alternate in buffling the Chinese, who have been preparing for over a year now with hopes of winning the tournament right at their own backyard.
Valencia, a second year education student of Santo Tomas, has the power but has the tendency to lose control, the main reason why head coach Roberto Ituralde is starting Tayag, another UST stalwart.
"Ang China sanay sa fastball iyan kaya baka si Tayag muna mag-pitch dahil hindi man malakas ang bato niya pero may control naman," said Ituralde.
Other members of the team are Elaine Caladiao (shortstop), Carren Carpio (pitcher), Roselyn Guinto (outfielder), Karina Aribal (first base), Joan Locsin (second base), Loverly Parohinog (outfield), Sheiry Lou Valenzuela (2nd base), Sarah Jane Agravante (catcher), Janet Vallite (outfield), Joy Lanting (outfield), Johanna Caunga (pitcher) and Yocel Aguilar (catcher).
Other members of the RP delegation are Angping’s secretary general Liza Rentero, assistant coaches Isaac Bacarisas and Ramon Oncinian and statistician Eldiza Yator.
The Blu Girls got a look at the playing venue but could not practice because of persistent rain. Instead, they contented themselves with warm up sessions at the University’s practice field.
Next stop for RP is Korea on Monday, defending champion Japan on Tuesday, Czech Republic and Australia on Wednesday and New Zealand on Thursday.
Teams in the other group are second seed United States, Chinese Taipei, Canada, Russia, Netherlands, Argentina and RP’s Southeast Asian Games rival Thailand.
Softball Notes: After arriving at Dupong International Airport at 5 p.m. following a four-hour trip via the Philippine Airlines from Manila, the RP delegation had to endure a long 10-hour ride from Shanghai to Nanjing because the driver designated by RP sponsor Oishi got lost. Angping even shelled out 50 yuan (P400) just to hire a local taxi driver to take the team as far as the venue. But it turned out that the team’s billeting area, was still a good 20 minutes away. And after some questioning, team Philippines made it to Daji Resort and Spa tired, sleepy and weary. Thankfully, what awaited them was a scenic, mountainside hotel located at the outskirts of the city known for its rich natural resources and beautiful sceneries.