Cuban basketball team affected by lack of visas for US

 

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 20 (ACN) The Cuban men's basketball team will play tonight its qualification to the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 in a game against the Bahamas, marked by the urgency of having to win with only nine players out of the 15 called up.

The match, scheduled at the Sir Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium in Nassau, comes in the midst of a crisis that could cut short the last challenge against Puerto Rico in Group G of the qualifier.

Only two players have visas to enter the United States, which makes it impossible to play the game against the Puerto Ricans on February 23.

If not resolved, Cuba would lose by 20-0 according to FIBA regulations, and would be eliminated if it does not beat the Bahamas.

Six players have not joined the team, including Yoanki Mensia, star of Casademont Zaragoza and key in the 76-62 win over Bahamas in November 2024, Howard Saint-Roos, captain in the previous window, and Karel Guzman, whose return was expected after three missed windows.

If Osmel Planas' team wins the victory over Bahamas, they would secure their place in the AmeriCup 2025 by reaching three successes and six points in Group D.

The loss (2-4) would allow the combination with the basket differential against Puerto Rico and Bahamas, and both teams would remain at the top of the standings and would eliminate Cuba.

The pressure is on a depleted team, which has only 9 of 15 players called up and is looking to repeat the feat of February 2024, when they surprised the United States.