The Philippine Blu Boys reclaimed the Southeast Asian Games men’s softball gold medal on Thursday, Dec. 18, after blanking Singapore, 3-0, in the final at Queen Sirikit Baseball Stadium in Pathum Thani. The victory restored the Philippines to the top of the regional podium after surrendering the title six years ago.

Left-handed ace Jehanz Maristela Coro delivered a pitching clinic, striking out 17 batters in a two-hit shutout. His dominant outing avenged the Blu Boys’ gold-medal loss to Singapore in the 2019 SEA Games held in Clark, Pampanga.

The Filipinos struck early as Justine Rosales launched a solo home run in the opening inning to seize control. Lyonas de Leon later widened the gap with a two-run single in the fourth, providing Coro all the support he needed.

The triumph marked the Philippines’ ninth overall gold medal in men’s softball. It capped a campaign defined by resilience after an early stumble in the tournament.

Redemption after preliminary setback

The Blu Boys finished the preliminary round with a 2-1 record, cruising past Malaysia, 11-1, and Thailand, 12-0, both in four innings. Their lone loss came against Singapore, a 7-3 setback that nearly cost them a finals berth.

In that earlier defeat, the Filipinos surrendered six runs in the fifth inning to squander a late lead. The championship rematch offered a chance for redemption, and the Blu Boys responded with a disciplined, error-free performance.

Softball games are played over seven innings but can be shortened due to mercy rules, a format that worked in the Philippines’ favor during the preliminaries. In the final, however, patience and execution proved decisive over the full distance.

Blu Girls eye another title

The gold-medal victory set the stage for a potential double celebration for Philippine softball. The Blu Girls are set to chase an 11th SEA Games gold medal in the women’s division on Friday at the same venue.

The Blu Girls swept the preliminary round with a spotless 4-0 record. They edged Singapore, 2-1, in eight innings during their lone meeting, setting up another high-stakes title clash.

With the Blu Boys back on top and the Blu Girls still in contention, Philippine softball closed in on another memorable SEA Games campaign.