The 65th National Baseball Series will kick off on October 4 in a Cuba that is experiencing one of the worst moments in its recent history, with blackouts lasting over 20 hours a day and an economy that offers no relief to Cuban families.
The start date was confirmed by the Cuban Baseball Federation in a meeting with the specialized press held on Tuesday, according to the JIT site.
The championship format has been fundamentally changed to reduce travel and save fuel. The tournament will be divided into two geographical zones—Western and Eastern—with a total of four groups.
In the West, Group A will consist of Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Isla de la Juventud, and Industriales, while Group B will include Mayabeque, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, and Villa Clara. In the East, Group C will gather Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, and Las Tunas, and Group D will feature Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo.
Each team will play 44 matches in the qualifying round: 24 against rivals from their own group and 20 against teams from the other group in their zone. The top four teams from each region will advance to the postseason, which will follow the Page competitive system with series of three games played in a best-of-two format, while the final will be extended to a best-of-seven.
One of the most telling aspects of the situation facing Cuban baseball is the fuel. The Federation will cover the initial expense in foreign currency to acquire it, with the expectation of recouping that money through sponsorships and reinvesting it to ensure the continuity of the tournament.
The accommodation has also been reorganized: a single hotel per province will be used to host the visiting teams. For the preparation stage of the 16 teams, 300 balls were provided, but each province will need to ensure its own bats.
The uniforms for this edition are secured thanks to the active contract with the brand Teammate. Juan Reinaldo Pérez, president of the Federation, confirmed this with an implicit warning about the future: "We already have the uniforms for the 65 SNB, which are maintained under the contract with the brand Teammate and are already in our country to outfit the 16 teams. For the upcoming 66 series, it will be the responsibility of each territory, which may include advertising."
The setting for the championship could not be more challenging. Cuba recorded an electricity deficit of up to 2,400 MW in August, with a demand of 3,300 MW against barely 1,100 MW available, leading to outages that affect nearly 67% of the expected consumption. The National Electric System has completely collapsed at least seven times this year.
The impact on sports has been cumulative. In May, the National Baseball Commission suspended the national youth championships for Under-12, Under-15, and Under-18 due to the energy crisis. In June, the INDER of Matanzas publicly admitted that the Cocodrilos could not travel to Havana because the assigned bus did not receive fuel.
The 64th National Series also faced repercussions: its final between Matanzas and Las Tunas was held at a neutral venue—the Latinoamericano Stadium in Havana—due to logistical limitations, and Matanzas was crowned champion on February 14 with a knockout of 11-0.
Before the start of the next National Series, the schedule includes a preparation seminar from September 1 to 15, stadium reviews from September 16 to 25, the official formation of the teams—32 players and 14 coaching staff members—from September 15 to 20, and a technical meeting on October 1, just three days before the kickoff.
Cuban baseball thus reaches its 65th edition, compelled to reinvent itself amid a crisis that shows no signs of easing, in a country where even securing the basic resources to keep a championship running is, in itself, an achievement.
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