The reinforcements from Las Tunas and Ciego de Ávila have been chosen for the final of the 3rd Cuban Elite Baseball League, which begins this Saturday

This Saturday, Game 1 for the championship of the Third Elite Cuban Baseball League (III ELCB) will begin at José Ramón Cepero Stadium in Ciego de Ávila. The Ciego de Ávila Tigres will compete against the Las Tunas Leñadores, with both teams aiming for their first title in the elite editions of Cuban baseball.

Before the final, the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FCBS) announced today the reinforcement selections for each team, which this time consist of a single player as per tournament regulations.

Dennis Laza will reinforce the Ciego de Ávila Tigers in the final of the Third LEBC. (Photo by Roberto Morejón)

Ciego de Ávila, the leader of the qualifying round who progressed to the final by defeating Industriales 4-1 in the best-of-seven series, chose outfielder Dennis Laza from Mayabeque, who played for the Industriales Lions in this III ELCB.

Meanwhile, Las Tunas chose Granma's third baseman, Osvaldo Abreu, who had reinforced the Santiago de Cuba team, eliminated in the semifinal against them.

Granma's infielder Osvaldo Abreu was selected by Las Tunas Leñadores manager Abeicy Pantoja to face Ciego de Ávila in the final of the 3rd LEBC. (Photo by Diario Digital Jit)

Las Tunas secured second place in the tournament's qualifying stage and moved on to the final by overcoming Santiago de Cuba in the semifinals, winning in six games.

The III ELCB final is set to start at Cepero Stadium in Ciego de Ávila with the initial two matches on Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1. The final will then shift to Julio A. Mella Stadium in Las Tunas for the next three matches, scheduled from May 3 to 5. If the series goes beyond five games, games 6 and 7 will take place at José Ramón Cepero Stadium on June 7 and 8.

This marks the first occasion where both teams have vied for the championship in an Elite League edition of Cuban baseball.

Agropecuarios claimed victory in the inaugural edition of the Elite League, which took place between 2022 and 2023, whereas Matanzas emerged as the winners of the second edition spanning 2023 to 2024.

Schedule for the III Elite League Final

GAMES	DATE	TIME	STADIUM	VS	HC
1	May 31	2:00 pm	José R. Cepero	Las Tunas	Ciego de Ávila
2	Jun 1	2:00 pm	José R. Cepero	Las Tunas	Ciego de Ávila
3	Jun 3	2:00 pm	Julio A. Mella	Ciego de Ávila	Las Tunas
4	Jun 4	2:00 pm	Julio A. Mella	Ciego de Ávila	Las Tunas
5 (*)	Jun 5	2:00 pm	Julio A. Mella	Ciego de Ávila	Las Tunas
6 (*)	Jun 7	2:00 pm	José R. Cepero	Las Tunas	Ciego de Ávila
7 (*)	Jun 8	2:00 pm	José R. Cepero	Las Tunas	Ciego de Ávila

(*) If necessary