THIS time there were no surprises. The United States and Cuba, the two most recent Olympic baseball champions, dominated the Pre-Olympic Tournament of the Americas, finishing with direct entries to the 2008 Beijing Games.

The adoption of a fairer "everyone against everyone" system enabled the two teams to finally square off, with the U.S. winning 8-5 after slugging in five home runs and playing better ball.

This Olympic qualifying event did not feature medals for the winner or runners-up, just the satisfaction of playing against traditional rivals.

"The United States has been looking for the opportunity to bring the Olympic title home, the same one that we weren’t able to defend in 2004, because Mexico had eliminated us," said Davey Johnson, the U.S. team manager.

"We need to classify in the first opportunity. It’s good not just for the United States, but also for international baseball," he commented.

The experienced sports official said that the tournament enabled him to fulfill a dream that he’s always had: "to lead the United States in a final against Cuba," but admitted that he had one more: "We’ll see each other in Beijing."

Cuba finished the tournament with a 6-1 record, just like the United States, but had to be satisfied with second place after losing against them. Cuban team manager Rey Vincente Anglada praised their "classy and competent" rivals.

Mexico went home with its mission incomplete after coming in third with a 5-2 record, preventing them the team getting a direct entry, although it will have the opportunity to classify in another qualifying tournament shortly before the Games.

"I was hoping we could win the direct entry and I think we had the level of playing to do so," said Mexican team manager José Enrique Reyes. "But our batting was not up to our par, and we lacked rapport."

"I’m happy because we still have an opportunity, but I don’t feel completely satisfied," he told reporters after Mexico’s 10-7 victory against Panama on the last day of the tournament.

That victory also assured Mexico’s classification for the World Championships and the 2007 Pan-American Games in Brazil.

According to Reyes, the positive note was provided by the pitchers, who showed they were "solid and deep."

Canada won an important 3-1 victory over Nicaragua at the end of the tournament, finishing in fourth place.

With a 4-3 record, Canada assured its opportunity to play in another Olympic qualifying event. The team also classified for the World Championships and the 2007 Pan-American Games.

Venezuela finished the tournament with an 8-2 victory against the Dominican Republic and came in fifth place overall, with a 3-4 record, classifying for the Pan-American Games in Rio.

"I feel really happy right now. We didn’t get the Olympics slot, but our goal was to classify for the Pan-American Games," said Venezuelan manager Henry Campos.

"The quality of the tournament has been excellent, with very good defense and pitching except for Ecuador and Colombia. For the Americas, the important tournaments are not just the ones organized by the IBAF or the COPABE; instead, all of the countries in the region should reach an agreement to play more tournaments during the year in their free time, so that we go to other competitions better prepared," he commented.

Panama was a favorite for going into the Pre-Olympic, and during the first round won four games, losing only to Cuba, 6-7, in a close game. But the Panamanians got stuck in a rut in the sixth game, and were just able to qualify for the Pan-American Games.

Nicaragua finished in seventh place with a 2-5 record, the same as Panama, but lost to the latter in the game between the two, and was not able to qualify for further events.

The Dominican Republic, which lost all seven games in the second round, finished last.