Havana, Feb 5 (Prensa Latina) Manager of the Cuban baseball team, Miguel Borroto, was optimistic today in the face of the pre-Olympic challenge in Arizona, United States, looking for a ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Games.
In an exclusive interview with Prensa Latina, Borroto highlighted the revival of the sport of balls and strikes in Cuba in recent months, particularly during the crucial playoffs of the 59 National Series, won by the Crocodiles of Matanzas.
Immersed in the preparation of the shortlist training in the Latin American stadium of this capital, he explained that from next Sunday, five matches will be held in the Sub23 squad that will go to the Panamerican games of Honduras and Nicaragua.
“I perceive a lot of enthusiasm and dedication of the players who yearn to go to the Olympic Games. We lost the first attempt to achieve it in Premier 12 (last November in Asia) and now Arizona is presented as a before-last opportunity”, he said.
The helmsman of the cast that should clash with Venezuela, Canada and Colombia in a group B of the pre-Olympic March 22-26, said that the type of baseball played in America is more affordable for Cubans.
“We are on the same schedule, it is a very similar baseball to ours and we set our minds on conquering classification in Arizona; however, we must also think about taking the other step, if necessary», Borroto told Prensa Latina.
The strategist thus referred to the possibility of going to Taipei of China, in case they do not reach the top in Surprise and Tempe, two cities near Phoenix where the contest will be held next month.
For this, Cuba would have to obtain the second or third place to go to Taipei of China, then, from April 1 to 5, where they will face Holland, the People’s Republic of China, Australia and the hosts for the last place towards the Japanese capital.
Borroto pondered the playoff celebration of the crucial phase of the Cuban season at full stadiums, with broad support from fans. «It rescued the spirit of joy that also generates our national pastime,» he said.
Under the Havana winter sun and for about seven weeks, the players will continue training to find space among the 24 to be chosen for Arizona.
«We are in the stage of the rebirth of Cuban baseball, changes will be made in the structure of the national championship and I hope Cuba will recover its international level,» Borroto completed in the dialogue with Prensa Latina.
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