The whole of Cuba is Team Asere.

Photo: Ismael Francisco/ Cubadebate.

After a tour of the main streets of Havana, such as G and 23 and M, Team Asere arrived at a packed Coliseum in the Ciudad Deportiva, where the initiatives were not long in coming.

Amid colorful waves from the stands and loud chants

"Hey, I'm Team Asere"

, the Cuban baseball players received the public's welcome.

Captain Alfredo Despaigne spoke emotionally on behalf of the team.

“This Clásico was a difficult tournament. The first defeats surprised us, but we trusted, we held rallies and we passed that phase

.

Then we were more confident against Australia and got the win.

“Yesterday's game, everyone knows how it went.

Nothing, for the other Clásico we will have the revenge.

Very proud to be part of Team Asere.

Regarding the reception of the Cuban people, the man from Granma commented that it was "spectacular and that he will be eternally grateful."

Alfredo Despaigne appreciates the reception of the Cuban people.

Photo: Ismael Francisco/ Cubadebate.

For his part, the president of Inder Osvaldo Vento told the crowd that “a new concept of conformation of the Cuba team had been successfully applied

, among players from our National Series and leagues abroad.

“

The love of baseball and their homeland united us.

It has been a great lesson and a source of satisfaction

.

We made great efforts so that the set was prepared with quality.

We never stopped trusting you, not even when we lost to the Netherlands and Italy.

“That is why the other victories motivated this town so much.

What happened in Miami fills us with more pride, because few athletes in the world have shown such rationality and despite the adverse scenario they played with decorum.

“No matter the result, you had already won the great battle of this Fifth World Classic.

This reception is fair and we invite them to new combats”.

The reception was headed by Jorge Luis Perdomo Di-Lella, Cuban Vice Prime Minister;

Teresa Amarelle Boué, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and general secretary of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC);

Jorge Luis Broche Lorenzo, member of the secretariat of the PCC department;

Osvaldo Vento Montiller, president of Inder;

Gerardo Hernández, Hero of the Republic of Cuba and National Coordinator of the CDRs;

Roberto León Richards, head of the Cuban Olympic Committee;

Luis Antonio Torres Iríbar, first secretary of the PCC in Havana;

Reinaldo García Zapata, governor of the capital and Raul Alejandro Palmero Fernández, first secretary of the UJC in Havana.

Palmero Fernández recalled that

the Cuban team, runner-up in 2006, took refuge in the Ciudad Deportiva.

“Today, you receive the love, hugs and warmth of this grateful people.

Yes, because baseball in Cuba is more than a game, it is culture and tradition”.

The meeting was enlivened with choreographies from the National Gymnastics School and the

Revolution

ballet .

The tribute was attended by the runners-up of the Little Leagues of the Habana del Este municipality, a representation of the Industriales team and the Cerro Pelado center, as well as university students from


Medical Sciences, UCI, UH, Cujae, Varona, and Customs workers.

The pitcher Yariel Rodríguez received the reception from the public. Photo: Ismael Francisco/ Cubadebate.

Team Cuba in the Sports City. Photo: Ismael Francisco/ Cubadebate.

Pitching was a fundamental weapon for Cuba in the Fifth Classic.

Photo: Ismael Francisco/ Cubadebate.

The Cuban people received their champions.

Photo: Ismael Francisco/ Cubadebate.

Andrys Pérez takes a photo with young people in the Coliseum. Photo: Ismael Francisco/ Cubadebate.

We are Team Asere.

Photo: Ismael Francisco/ Cubadebate.

Despaigne exchanges with the Cuban people in the Sports City. Photo: Ismael Francisco/ Cubadebate.