Palma, Blu Girls smother Koreans, make finals

Ace hurler Royeve Palma redeemed herself from an opening day setback to China with a masterful handling of South Korea, leading host Philippines to a morale-boosting 5-2 victory for the last seat in the seventh Asian Softball 19-Under Women Softball Finals at the Clark International Sports Complex in Pampanga yesterday.

Unbeaten and four-time champion Japan racked up its sixth straight win with a 16-0 thrashing of Thailand; defending champion Chinese Taipei overpowered India, 16-0; and Korea bounced back with a 15-3 rout of Malaysia in other results.

Japan topped the eight-team series with a 6-0 slate, Chinese Taipei posted a 5-1 card, China and Philippines wound up with identical 4-2 marks to complete the page system finals.

Korea and Malaysia ended up with 2-4 slates followed by Thailand (1-5) and India (0-6).

With the completion of the finals cast, the Philippines’ match against Japan today has been rendered nonbearing. “I am proud of the Junior Blu Girls for making it to the finals. I have always maintained that our team has what it takes to make a strong showing against the best in Asian junior women’s softball,” said Asaphil president Jean Henri Lhuillier, also the president and CEO of tournament sponsor Cebuana Lhuillier.

The page system finals will be held tomorrow at 1 p.m. with Japan facing Taiwan and China taking on the host squad.