Blu Boys 2nd in Asian softball

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Blu Boys settled for second place in the 14th Asian Men’s Softball Championship after dropping a 0-5 setback to perennial champ Japan in yesterday’s grand finals at Kallang Softball Diamond Stadium in Singapore.

The Blu Boys couldn’t get things going against the powerhouse Japanese, who completed an unbeaten run to their seventh straight Asian crown in the world championship-qualifying tourney featuring six nations.

Still, the Pinoys showed more spunk against Japan in the gold medal match compared to their earlier showdown in the eliminations, where the Japanese romped off with a 15-0 rout.

Earlier in the morning session, the Blu Boys hacked out a vengeful 4-3 victory over Indonesia to earn the right to face Japan in the afternoon’s grand finals.

For their silver finish, the Filipinos joined holders Japan in the 2015 ISF Men’s World Championship slated in Canada. Third placers Indonesia, which shocked the Pinoys in the elims (9-8), took the last berth to the worlds.

The Blu Boys reached the Page System Semis as the third seed with a 3-2 card built around victories over Pakistan (21-0), Singapore (8-3) and Brunei (9-1).

Last Friday, they ripped fourth-seeded host Singapore in the first semis match, 5-2, to move up to a battle for a finals berth with the Indonesians. The top-ranked Japanese nipped No. 2 Indonesia, 4-0, to seize the first spot in the grand finals, leaving the Indons in a dispute with Phl.