MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine women's national baseball team is set for its debut on the world stage.
The Philippine Amateur Baseball Association announced late Tuesday night that the Filipina batters gained a wildcard entry at the 2026 WSBC Women's Baseball World Cup.
The Philippine team is slotted in Group Tainan, which group stage will run from August 23 to 27 in Taiwan.
“This is a very important development for Philippine baseball,” said PABA Secretary General Michael Asuncion in the PABA Facebook post.
“It strengthens the momentum that we are building and gives our athletes the opportunity to compete against the best in the world. We are proud to represent the country on this stage and will continue to prepare with focus and determination.”
World No. 21 Philippines is grouped with No. 1 Japan, No. 5 Venezuela, No. 6 Chinese Taipei, No. 7 Cuba, and No. 15 Great Britain.
The other group named 'Group Rockford,' is composed of No. 2 USA, No. 3 Canada, No. 4 Mexico, No. 8 Hong Kong, China, No. 10 Australia, and No. 12 South Korea.
Group Rockford's play is set from July 22 to 26 in Rockford, Illinois, United States.
The top three finishers from its group will enter the final stage, set for July 19 to 25 next year also in Rockford.
The Philippines gained the wildcard berth based on its fourth-place finish at last year's IV BFA Women's Baseball Asia Cup, where only the top three advanced to the World Cup.
Being world No. 21 and showing an upward trajectory in the sport also enabled the Philippine women's baseball program to earn the World Cup slot.
The Philippine women's team actually qualified for the 2020 World Cup after finishing third at the 2019 Women's Baseball Asian Cup in Zhongshan, China.
The world meet was cancelled, though, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and thereby delaying the Phiilippine entry.
