Cap tip Blair Setford. 
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
MANILA (PNA) –The Philippine Blu Boys open today their quest for a double – winning back the Asian men’s softball title their predecessors last held in 1989 and making it to the 2013 world championship. The Blu Boys play a doubleheader in today’s opening day – against Indonesia at 11:30 a.m. (12:30 Manila time) and Japan at 2:30 p.m. in games that could decide the fate of the Philippines’ campaign.
If they reassert their dominance of the Indonesians, they, most likely would virtually clinch one of the three world championship slots at stake in this tournament that serves as qualifier for the world tourney.
Should they prevail over the Japanese, the Blu Boys, too, could be assured of advancing to the gold medal play. This is because none of the other teams in the cast — Hong Kong, Singapore and India — are capable of pulling one over the Filipinos.
The absence of world class sluggers Chinese Taipei,Korea and China, who for unexplained reasons failed to send representation in this year’s Asian championship in Miimi city, Okayama, Japan, looked to have benefited the Filipinos the most in their twin quest for reason that they only have the defending champion Japan and Indonesia to reckon with.
And if last year’s results of the Southeast Asian Games could be the gauge, the Indonesians, in whose expense the Blu Boys brought home the crown, would be no contest.
All teams will have to play doubleheader each per day in the short but tough format.
Other games today pit Japan against India, Singapore against Hong Kong, India against Hong Kong and Indonesia against Singapore. The last time a national squad beat the Japanese was during the semifinal round of the 2003 edition of the conclave held right here in Manila that enabled the Blu Boys then to enjoy a twice which the host country failed to take advantage of. The Japanese eventually ended up retaining their title.
The Filipinos actually had won this tournament thrice in the series inaugurals in 1985, in 1978 and 1989 with the Japanese emerging as bridesmaid in all.
In the same manner, the Japanese title victories – two in the 80s, in 1994 and 1996, 2003 and 2006 – were all at the expense of the Filipinos.
“In other words, the Japanese are not that unbeatable,” Filomeno “Boy”Codinera, a member of PH champion teams of 1965, 1973 and 1989, the latter as coach, assessed. “This, the Blu Boys of old had proven .”
“This year, our Blu Boys of the present time can if given the right training and motivation,” he said.
Cool article about the other side of the world. Thanks for always sharing anything fastpitch related, makes the off season easier to get through. Good luck to all that are going to the Jr Worlds!