The Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana (LIDOM) has confirmed that the Águilas Cibaeñas must win two games to secure a spot in the finals. This announcement follows a decision made at a meeting with team executives regarding a recent ruling that impacted Águilas’ standings.
Águilas Cibaeñas Facing Critical Challenges
On January 19, 2026, the LIDOM nullified a win for the Águilas Cibaeñas against the Toros del Este, which had originally taken place on January 16. The annulment was due to an irregularity identified by the Toros. They protested the game after discovering that the Águilas had registered nine imported players instead of the maximum allowed eight.
Game Rescheduled and Standings Implications
As a result of this ruling, the Águilas must now replay the game against the Toros on January 19 at the Francisco Micheli Stadium in La Romana, scheduled for 7:30 PM. This game is crucial as it will determine the final standings in the Round Robin phase of the current tournament.
- Date of original game: January 16, 2026
- Date of rescheduled game: January 19, 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM
- Stadium: Francisco Micheli, La Romana
According to LIDOM’s regulations, if the game results in a tie for the second position in the standings, an additional tie-breaker game will be played. This is in accordance with the league rules outlined in Article 19.e) of the 2025-2026 tournament regulations.
Águilas Cibaeñas’ Response
In a public statement following the initial ruling, the Águilas Cibaeñas referred to the decision as “disproportionate.” The team also stated that despite the annulment, their record remains at 11 wins and 7 losses.
Additionally, the Águilas’ request for the matter to be escalated to the LIDOM Board of Directors was declined. The Board confirmed that the ruling had been appropriately handled by LIDOM’s presidency and deemed further intervention unnecessary.
The situation underscores the importance of strict adherence to league regulations. As the playoffs approach, the pressure mounts for the Águilas Cibaeñas to perform and reclaim their standing in the tournament.
