Blu Girls on track in Canada Cup

MANILA, Philippines — Reyae Mae Villamin went on a homerun binge while Royevel Palma was rock-solid on the mound as the Philippines smashed New Zealand, 5-1, yesterday to jumpstart its bid in the 2024 Canada Cup International Softball Championship in Surrey in British Columbia.

Villamin blasted a pair of over-the-fence homeruns – the first in a lone homer in the bottom of the second inning and the other a grand slam in the sixth – while Palma allowed just a run in powering the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls to the emphatic victory.

The victory sent the Filipinas, mentored by Ana Santiago with Chekwa Valenzuela as assistant, at joint No. 2 with Israel, just a shadow behind Pool A leader Canada, which has two wins.