Havana, March 15 (ACN) - The Cuban team will debut this Saturday against Peru in Group B of the U-15 Pan American Baseball Championship in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic.

The 20-player roster, led by Pinar del Rio mentor Alexander Urquiola, was scheduled to leave yesterday evening.

In this competition, which gathers 12 teams, the Cuban troop aims to obtain one of the five slots for the world championship of the category.

After the debut against the Peruvians, whom they must beat with a large scoreboard, Urquiola's students will face Puerto Rico (March 17), Venezuela (18), Guatemala (19) and Nicaragua (20). Meanwhile, in the A bracket, Brazil, Argentina, Panama, Mexico, Bahamas and the host Dominican Republic will be eliminated.

According to the competitive rules, the top three teams in each bracket will qualify for the final round on Thursday, March 21.

In that phase, the third of each segment will fight for the fifth place in the world championship; the second will fight for the bronze medal and the first for the title.

Cuba finished in second place in the 2022 world championship, held in Hermosillo, Mexico. It lost a close 3x4 to the United States in the final.