Cuba’s worst hstorical performance in U23 Baseball World Cup 2022Cuba paid dearly for its negative start in the U23 World Cup showing tenth place in the general table today, the island's worst result in international baseball tournaments.

Taipei.- After five consecutive successes in their last games, players failed to change the destiny of the team led by manager Alain Álvarez, by losing in their first three duels in the fight organized in Chinese Taipei.

Despite beating Germany (3-2), Venezuela (2-0), and South Africa (9-0) in the so-called consolation phase -dispute for places seven to 12-, the Antillean troop was far from leading the pack of those not classified to the Super Round.

The setbacks against Puerto Rico (0-5), South Korea (0-4), and the Netherlands (2-3) were too heavy a cross in the two competitive segments, although -paradoxically- the balance of victories over defeats was positive.

The Caribbean team concluded its participation with a 5-3, as it also beat Australia (3-1) and Mexico (2-0), the teams that, in group B, accompanied South Korea in the final stage.

Never before had the island closed so far from the podium, and -without delving too much into the books- as background, we remember the seventh step in the IV World Classic and a couple of sixth places in the second edition of the aforementioned lid and the Pan American Games of Lima 2019.

According to the specialists, the situation activates the alarm signal for the umpteenth time, when important programs such as the Caribbean Series and the World Classic knock on the doors, both in the first quarter of 2023.

A few hours before the end of the U-23 contest, Japan and South Korea will dispute the gold medal, while Mexico and Taipei will fight for third place, in a calendar that welcomed 12 national teams. (PL)