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Asian Games: Pinay softball players like their chances of bringing home a medal

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/08/19/08182018-philippine-national-softball-team.jpg"/><figcaption>The Philippine national softball team, playing in last year&#x27;s Asian championship in Taiwan in this photo, is looking to clinch a top-3 finish in the Asian Games in Jakarta. File/Handout</figcaption></figure></div>JAKARTA—Nothing else than a podium finish will do for the Philippine Blu Girls, who swing into action in the Asian Games softball tournament at Gelora Bung Karno field on Sunday.The Blu Girls open their campaign in the single-round, seven-team eliminations against Hong Kong at 8 p.m. (9 p.m. in Manila).“We don’t watch to match our fourth-place finish (in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games) the last time. We are aiming for a podium finish,” said Blu Girls coach Randy Dizer, a former national softball standout. Dizer’s confidence in the Blu Girls rests on their runner-up finish — behind champion Japan — in last year’s Asian women’s softball championship held in Taiwan.Except for Japan, the Philippines previously beat all of the same opponents it is facing here, including an 18-0 rout of Hong Kong, before absorbing a 7-0 beating at the hands of the powerhouse Japanese side in the finals.“We have been together for some time so we have a chance of winning medal in this Asian Games,” said skipper-catcher Chesca Altamonte. “Yes, I think we have a chance of a podium finish.”Veteran shortstop Garrie Blando, who has been with the squad since 2014, agreed.“I believe we’ve been together for a longer time now so we have a better team since our last Asian Games. We are really hoping to win a medal here,” Almonte said.Dizer said that one of his side&#x27;s advantages is a deep bullpen, led by Sierra Lange, a top rookie playing for the US NCAA Division 1 School George Washington University, with Reese Myquelle Guevarra, Mia Macapagal and Kaith Jezra Jalandoni backing her up.“Medyo malalim ang bullpen natin. It is the hitting that we have to improve on,” noted Dizer after the Blu Girls’ stint in the recent world championships in Chiba, Japan where they wound up with a 2-4 win-loss record.The coach said the absence of sluggers Dani Gilmore and Kailee Cuico left a huge hole on their offense, “but I am hoping our other players like Hailey Decker can step up for us.&quot;After Sunday’s match, the Blu Girls will have a double header on Monday, tackling South Korea at 3 p.m. (4 p.m.) then China at 8 p.m.(9 p.m.).They face reigning Asian Games softball champion Japan on Tuesday, before wrapping up their elimination-round campaign against Chinese-Taipei on Wednesday.(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.)

The Philippine national softball team opens its Asian Games campaign against Hong Kong at 9 p.m. (Manila time).

The Philippine national softball team opens its Asian Games campaign against Hong Kong at 9 p.m. (Manila time).