Marcos Ortega, manager of the championship-winning team in the National U-23 Baseball Series, emphasised this principle

«To aspire to be champions, a team needs unity and discipline alongside talent,» stated mentor Marcos Ortega exclusively to JIT after guiding the Granma Colts (Alazanes) to victory in the recently concluded National U-23 Baseball Series.

«This defined our collective, where excellent relationships existed between athletes and coaches. Experienced players like Yulieski Remón consistently supported teammates. Strong teamwork enabled this outcome,» Ortega remarked shortly after celebrating a 2-1 series victory over Havana at the Latinoamericano Stadium.

For the Granma manager, the objective from the tournament’s outset was to win game after game in the challenging Group D of the eastern zone.

«Advancing to the semi-finals required topping the group, which included Santiago de Cuba – a strong performer in this category. Competition was fierce, ultimately decided in the 18th game, the final elimination-phase match,» he noted.

From there, Ortega explained, they focused on «changing the medal colour» through effort and sacrifice, leading to victories over Camagüey and ultimately the gold against the capital’s Lions.

The Alazanes mentor expressed pride that under his leadership, a team from his province secured its first-ever title in this competition.

«It’s deeply satisfying to work with such capable players and leadership. Every member contributed,» affirmed the strategist, who named right-handed pitcher Alexei Ricardo as his series Most Valuable Player.

Finally, Ortega highlighted the positive impact of reviving the U-23 National Series after a three-year hiatus.

«Competing at this level is vital for player development, serving as a gateway to the National Series where many will progress. This benefits Cuban baseball,» Ortega concluded.