Batters go down on last-day heartbreakers

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines dropped its last two matches to Chinese Taipei, 8-2, and Venezuela, 10-0, yesterday and kissed its finals hope goodbye in the WBSC Women’s World Cup group stage in Tainan, Taiwan.

It was a heartbreaking ending for the Filipinas, who needed just one victory to make it to next year’s World Cup finals in Rockford, Illinois.

The Nationals finished the six-nation Group B at fourth with a 2-3 record.

The last day heartbreakers didn’t diminish the team’s accomplishment of posting not just one, but two wins in its World Cup debut after shocking the World No. 7 Cubans, 6-0, and No. 15 Britons, 6-2, the day before.

Those pair of mammoth triumphs pushed the Filipinas one win from claiming one of the last three berths to Rockford.

But it wasn’t meant to be for Team Philippines.

The Nationals also pushed the World No. 1 Japanese to the limit before the latter eventually escaped with a 3-0 win last Tuesday, giving the former high hopes of a better future.