CUBA, the Olympic champion, is expecting to once again win the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Games. The United States is dreaming of getting its own back for failing to qualify for the Athens Games, while Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Venezuela don’t want to lose their last opportunity to participate in Olympic baseball.

The pre-Olympic Tournament of the Americas in Havana is to award two slots for the 2008 games, the last to feature baseball in its program after the International Olympic Committee decided to exclude that discipline from the 2012 games.

Twelve teams are competing, with Cuba and the United States as the favorites, and the others hoping to give a surprise showing.

Cuba shares Group A with Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic. Group B is comprised of the United States, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

Cuba is waiting to give its all in the competition. Manager Rey Vicente Anglada affirmed that they have one goal: "to win."

Led by their new star, Yulieski Gourriel, most of the national team members played in the World Classic, where Cuba took second place behind Japan.

Anglada, who made his debut with the team in their victory at the Central American and Caribbean Games, explained that at the pre-Olympic tournament, they will have "reinforced pitching, a good defense, speed and an abundant offense."

The manager commented that Gourriel will be third batter: "he is a player with a lot of quality, with a powerful offense, along with being sure and serene in his defense play."

Alexander Mayeta is shining as the fourth batter that the Havana-based manager had up his sleeve, which turned out to be very handy in Cartagena: "Mayeta knew how to use his opportunity, along with having a certain maturity."

For his part, Mayeta, the Most Valuable Player at the Central American and Caribbean Games, explained "I came with confidence, and was able to control my nervousness to do well, with the support of the other players and the team’s management."

The ace on the pitching rotation will be the experienced Pedro Luis Lazo, 33, who does not underestimate any of his rivals: "Anybody can win or lose a game."

The United States has announced a roster of professional players from Major League teams and Daney Johnson as manager.

Third baseman Nike Kinkade, 33, who has played with the New York Mets, the Baltimore Orioles and the Los Angeles Dodgers, is the only survivor from the U.S. team that won the Olympic gold in 2000.

Outfielder Chad Allen, 31, who played with the Minnesota Twins, the Cleveland Indians, the Florida Marlins and the Texas Rangers, was on the bronze-winning Olympic team of 1996.

The teams 12 pitchers include four left-handers: Mike Bacsik and Greg Smith, both from Arizona; Heath Phillips of Chicago and Jeff Ridgway of Tampa, as well as right-hander Nick Adenhart, a 20-year-old prospect for the Anaheim Angels.

Cuba and the United States will not face off during the first round, but that doesn’t mean that their competitions against the other teams will be a walk in the park.

The U.S. team will have in mind the nightmare its members went through in 2003 when Mexico eliminated them from the Athens Games, for which Canada and Cuba classified.

Mexico is hoping to repeat its experience of the 2003 pre-Olympic event, where they eliminated the United States, but this time they want a happier ending.

Roberto Mansur, a member of the national selections committee, noted, "If you don’t take your weapons, you’re not going to win."

This is why he is trying to recruit players who defended Mexico’s colors in the World Classic. They include Vinicio Castilla, freed up by the San Diego Padres; Erubiel Durazo, from the Minnesota Twins minor leagues; and Karim García, who plays in Japan.

The Dominican Republic, which has made large contributions to Major League baseball, has not had the same luck in the amateur field. However, it is coming to the pre-Olympic tourney with its win in these past Central American and Caribbean Games. Its players lost the final against Cuba, but in the semi-finals, they beat defending champion Puerto Rico.

For the pre-Olympic event, Héctor Pereira, president of the Dominican Baseball Federation, didn’t beat around the bush when he announced, "We’re going for the classification."

Justo Cruz will remain as team manager. He is looking for participation by Dominican players who were in Mexico, and others who play for the minor leagues in the United States.

WATCH OUT FOR PANAMA, PUERTO RICO, VENEZUELA AND NICARAGUA

Panama will have Aníbal Ruiz holding the reins, and to improve their offense, they are hoping to include Sherman Obando and shortstop Johnny Lasso, from the Cincinnati Reds.

Experienced manager José Manuel Carradero of Puerto Rico will be using amateur players along with some professionals, such as pitchers Jesus Feliciano, Iván Trujillo and Orlando Román.

Nicaragua should not be underestimated, and will have pitchers like Osvaldo Mairen, Julio César Raules and Franklin Sánchez.