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Havana welcomes them home
on Tuesday 21
Men, women and children began
lining some of Havana’s main streets from the early
afternoon for the mass welcome home of our baseball
players, creating a true demonstration of popular
jubilation.
Right at 4:55 p.m, the plane
landed at José Martí International Airport with
Cuba’s valiant team.
Holding the national flag,
pitchers Yadel Martí and Pedro Luis Lazo and
designated hitter Yoandy Garlobo descended the
stairs, and were received on the tarmac by Esteban
Lazo Hernández, member of the Political Bureau of
the Party; Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada, president of
the National Assembly; José Ramón Fernández, head of
the Cuban Olympic Committee; Christian Jiménez,
present of INDER; Julio Martínez, first secretary of
the UJC; along with baseball heroes, family members
and other guests.
In a brief exchange with
Granma, Garlobo, who was selected for the 1st
World Classic’s All-Stars Team, said that he was
very happy about the Cuban team’s performance and at
being selected as one of the tournament’s best
players. “I wanted to do well, but I never thought
it would be like this.”
Likewise, Yulieski Gourriel, also
selected for the All-Stars Team, said he was
surprised by that, “because there were a lot of good
second-base players there. It makes me really proud
to have that award,” he affirmed.
Yadel, the third Cuban selected
as an All-Star, commented that he had performed well
against very strong teams, but that his only thought
was to play just like he does in Cuba. “It made me
happy to be part of the All-Stars.”
Later came the emotional
welcome by the people as they paraded down the
entire Rancho Boyeros avenue, then down Avenida de
los Presidentes (G) to Calle 23 in Vedado, from
there to the Malecón, and down that emblematic
boulevard to Calle 12, turning back up onto 23rd
to Avenida 26 and the Sports City
Coliseum.
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