The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) unveiled the competitive calendar for the III Premier 12 Tournament this Tuesday, with Cuba set to debut against the Dominican Republic as part of Group B in Taiwan.
The team from the largest island in the Antilles, which has won three Olympic gold medals and was the runner-up in the first World Baseball Classic (2006), will face the Dominican squad on Wednesday, November 13, at the Tianmu Stadium. The following day, they will compete against South Korea at the same venue. On Friday the 15th, they will have a rest day, and on Saturday the 16th, they will play against Australia. On Sunday, they will face Japan, the reigning champion, at the same sports park located in the Shilin District of the capital, Taipei.
Presumably under the leadership of manager Armando Johnson, the Caribbean squad will close the elimination stage against the local team at the Taipei Dome on Monday, November 18.
In Group A, Mexico, United States, Venezuela, Netherlands, Panama, and Puerto Rico will compete from November 10 to 14 at the "Estadio Panamericano Charros de Jalisco" in Guadalajara and the "Santa Teresita de Tepic" in Nayarit, both cities in Mexico.
According to the competitive system, the top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Round from November 21 to 23 at the majestic Tokyo Dome in Japan. The leaders of that stage will play for the title, while the third and fourth places will contest for the bronze medals.
The Premier 12, the WBSC's main event, is the most significant baseball tournament of 2024. The 12 participating teams qualified through the world rankings. Cuba, with 3,121 points, secured its spot by finishing in eighth place as of the cut-off date of December 31, 2023.
The previous edition, held in 2019, yielded poor results for the island, as it was eliminated early: they suffered two shutouts out of three possible games, scored only two runs, failed to hit any extra-base hits, and their batters struck out 28 times while managing only four walks.
Four years earlier, in 2015, the first championship crowned South Korea as the king.
FAQs About the Premier 12 Tournament
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Premier 12 Tournament and Cuba's participation in it.
When does Cuba play its first game in the Premier 12 Tournament?
Cuba's first game in the Premier 12 Tournament is against the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, November 13, at the Tianmu Stadium in Taiwan.
Who are Cuba's opponents in Group B?
Cuba's opponents in Group B are the Dominican Republic, South Korea, Australia, Japan, and the local team from Taiwan.
Where will the Super Round of the Premier 12 be held?
The Super Round of the Premier 12 will be held at the Tokyo Dome in Japan from November 21 to 23.