Alfonso Urquiola: Our philosophy is to fight until the end

We are only 17 games away to end the second stage of Cuban baseball. Current champions are in the sixth spot with 37 wins, and 33 losses —out of the postseason right now. They are 2 games back the fourth place, Isla de la Juventud and Ciego de Avila.

If we still have options, we will play hard with all our strength to be in the postseason, said the experienced manager after being asked about his team chances in a rough season.

Urquiola gave some details on how the managerial staff has had to re-order the regular lineup in order to keep on winning. The team suffered major downturns during the development of the series.

Pinar del Rio lost aces Vladimir Gutierrez (reliever), Julio A. Martinez (starter) as well as catcher Lorenzo Quintana, shortstop Luis Alberto Valdes, and outfielder Osniel Madera.

Despite absences and handicaps throughout the season, Alfonso Urquiola highlighted the positive mood among players and praised the performance of players coming from other provinces.

Generally speaking, players from other provinces have met our expectations. However, this is not the case of ace Freddy Asiel Alvarez. But we hope he improves his performance soon as the team needs him, noted the manager.

With the mission of leading Pinar del Rio pitching staff along with Yosvani Torres in the second stage of the tournament, Villa Clara’s ace has lost three games in a row.

Alfonso Urquiola led Pinar del Rio team, improved with some baseball players, in the recently concluded Caribbean Baseball Series held in San Juan early in February, where the island team won the title.

Nonetheless, since winning the title in the Caribbean classic, Pinar del Rio has achieved only 4 wins in ten games. Havana’s Industriales defeated them 14-4 last game at Latinoamericano Stadium.

Cubasi Translation Staff