The Philippines’ women’s baseball team waited its entire history for a first World Cup win. It then needed only a few hours to add a second.
Team Philippines shut out Cuba 6-0 on Wednesday in Tainan, Taiwan, marking the program’s first-ever victory at the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup. This breakthrough arrived just days after a 3-0 loss to defending champion Japan opened the campaign on a rough note.
But The Filipinas didn’t stop there. Hours later, they blasted Great Britain 6-2 at the same venue, running their record to 2-1 in their debut appearance at the tournament.
Breaking Through Against Cuba
The win over world No. 7 Cuba came together methodically rather than all at once. Martine Dominique Francisco got the Philippines on the board in the bottom of the first, singling off losing pitcher Adriana Carrazana Urquiza to bring home Richelle Toledo, who’d reached base on a fielding error and stolen second during the at-bat.
The real breakaway came in the fourth. Angel Kaye Bedano drew a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a fielder’s choice from Helga Campos. From there, the Philippines strung together a five-run inning built almost entirely on small ball—Madaelene Domaug reached first on a bunt that scored Bedano, and Chastene Jover followed with a bunt of her own that brought home Domaug, who’d already advanced to second on a fielder’s choice.
Domaug, Jover, Veronica Velasco, and Mae Langga each drove in a run during that decisive fourth, giving winning pitcher Maria Christine Bautista all the support she’d need. Bautista, in turn, did her part in the circle, allowing just two hits and striking out two over 4 2/3 innings for coach Saki Bacarisas’ squad.
No Time to Celebrate
If Cuba was a breakthrough built patiently, world No. 15 Great Britain got no such grace period. The Philippines came out swinging immediately, erupting for four runs in the very first inning behind Toledo, Velasco, Ivy Capistrano, and Shyla Celis. Cassandra Inot added another run in the second before Erika Fernandez scored in the fourth off a bunt from Angel Bedaño, stretching the lead to a commanding 6-2.
Great Britain didn’t fold quietly. Darier Malone scored in the second, and Laura Hirai trimmed the deficit to 5-2 in the third, briefly threatening a comeback. The Filipinas’ defense shut that door for good, holding Great Britain scoreless over the final two innings to close out the win.
Philippines Goes for World Cup Finals
Two victories in a single day pushed the Philippines to 2-1 in the tournament and into genuine contention for one of the top three spots that would send the team to the World Cup Finals in Rockford, Illinois, next year. The Filipinas’ next test comes today against host Chinese Taipei and Venezuela at the same venue, with a historic run to the Finals now squarely within reach.
Chinese Taipei is currently ranked fifth in the world, with Venezuela not far behind at sixth. The former totes a 2-1 record similar to the Philippines, while the latter is 1-1. Meaning, Chinese Taipei, Venezuela, and the Philippines are all very much in the running for those coveted top three slots. Two victories should push the Filipinas into an historic Finals appearance, while one should give them a fighting chance depending on how the rest of the tournament plays out.
The Filipinas take on Chinese Taipei at 11:00 a.m. They then face Venezuela at 3:00 p.m.
