SAN JOSÉ (Costa Rica) – The Costa Rican Basketball Federation (FECOBA) is experiencing an outstanding stage by focusing on rebirthing basketball in this Central American nation. With more than two thousand games, more than 400 teams, and around five thousand athletes practicing basketball throughout the Costa Rican territory, the year 2019 is concluding with high hopes of a 2020 that is even more encouraging.

Thanks to FECOBA’s hard work and efforts to position its national teams, Costa Rica is back at the top positions of the region, winning top places in the Central American Student Sports Games (CODICADER) in Costa Rica with gold medals for both U12 categories. Then, in the U14 CODICADER Games in Honduras, the first place went to the girls and the second to the boys. Costa Rica also took the gold and the second championship title in a row at the U14 Central American Women’s Championship organized by COCABA in Managua, Nicaragua, as well as the silver medal for the men’s team, and both teams achieved the qualification to the 2020 Centrobasket. Finally, in the U16 Women's Central American Championship in Guatemala, Costa Rica won second place and qualified for the U17 Centrobasket 2019 in Puerto Rico.

A “Golden Generation”. That was the description that came up in Managua to a group of young athletes that wish to give back hope to a sport that, according to the Costa Ricans, is being born again.

“The great family of Tico basketball has had a year full of joy in which formative categories are very important. These achievements are definitely the result of a great effort that year after year, the coaches and parents make to compete in our Youth League tournament, which reaches around 200 teams with boys and girls of 8 to 18 years of age. The joyful basketball dribbles throughout our country for nearly 10 months and healthy competition and formation are crucial for this positive effect,” said FECOBA Vice-President Franklin Martínez Arias to FIBA.basketball.

“All credit is due as well to this young Golden Generation of athletes that, since a very young age, work hard to be a part of our national teams. This instills in us a commitment to give them the best possible conditions of organization and competition so that they can achieve their dreams. And this will be possible thanks to the new Strategic Plan that is underway," he added.

The national U14 teams, led by Mariela Iglesias in the female category; and by Pablo Arroyo in the male category, became a sensation in the Central American Championship that granted two places for the next tournament, the U15 Centrobasket. This is the most important event in the region, and where the Central American first and second teams meet the Caribbean and Mexican champions.

“In the COCABA Tournament, we play the first game against Panama, which means playing against history. The objective was breaking the barrier and we're getting closer to that. We won 3 of the 4 games and got the silver medal,” analyzed Costa Rican coach Arroyo for FIBA.basketball.

“The level was pretty much the same among all teams in the first spots – everyone won against the other team. The work done was very professional and there was a long road to build the team. We feel completely satisfied with the team we built,” added the national coach who assured that “when a tournament ends and you get your objective, you feel a great sense of relief. We also reached our goal of qualifying to Centrobasket, thanks to the work done by Costa Rica, FECOBA, and the children's parents,” he also said.

One of his players in the COCABA U14 Tournament was Saúl Martínez, who also was second in the CODICADER Games and was the greatest scorer in the Central American Championship, a tournament he played with a broken nose and several injuries in his ankle that caused him problems throughout the entire year. Saúl was the most outstanding scorer, with 76 points. Along with other teammates, Emmanuel Cheung and Leonardo Carballo were part of the championship’s All-Star Five.

The athletes’ parents know more than anyone the effort their children make to achieve their goals in sports. “It's been a very long process for Saúl to be a national team member. We've fully committed and have placed basketball as our top priority. We support him since he was 8, along with Pablo Arroyo, the coach that started to make him play, and now we're seeing the results. Saúl wants to do more and achieve a lot of goals in basketball. His family is supporting him and looking forward to the possibility of him attending the World Qualifiers or a World Cup,” said Nancy Rodríguez Cambronero, Saúl's mother.

“The injuries were very tough on Saúl. He even thought he would be left out of the national team. 2019 began with a broken nose, although this was no barrier for him because he's played with a mask. And three months ago, he had two level 3 and level 4 sprains. He's made sure to meet all his sports and academic responsibilities, he asks a lot of himself,” she shared.

For Saúl, getting the silver medal and being the best scorer in the tournament was very important. “I see sports as a way of living and ever since I was a young child, I wanted to win something important for this country, and it's happening. Individual achievements aren't relevant to me. Basketball is a team sport. It's been a great achievement both at a personal and at a national level. Wearing the name of your country across your chest isn’t easy. You must put every inch of your body and soul into each training session. More than as a team, we play as a family. We get up when we fall and we're stronger than ever together. That's how we were able to qualify to Centrobasket.”

Costa Rica was represented in three of the most important individual accolades of the tournament: most valuable female player, best male scorer, and in the All-Star Fives of each category. María Alejandra Montero, who won the gold medal in the CODICADER Games and gold in the U14 COCABA Tournament, was also the Tournament's MVP. With her teammate Lucía McGuinness, they were part of the All-Star Five.

“I played each game with my heart. We had a lot of support from everyone in Costa Rica. I was proud and happy because the results were good for everyone. We wanted to take our country's name to the highest place. I would say to younger players to believe in basketball. It's a sport that grants very beautiful experiences and they’ll see the results slowly but surely,” said Montero to FIBA.basketball.

This was also the first time in the past 15 years that the delegates’ positions that were usually for the directors to travel to the tournament, were used so that two collaborators, with COCABA experience, could go. This was the case of Daniela Corrales, the Federation’s Administrative and Athletic Manager; and Ignacio Montero, FECOBA’s Press Director.

Like this, the Ticos conclude a year full of hopes and expectations of what lies ahead in 2020. They are getting ready to end the 3x3 Mini Basketball Tournament on November 23 in San Pablo de Heredia. Also, to play in the Quarterfinals and Semi-Finals at the U16 and U18 youth leagues, and the U24 League’s Semi-Finals. Their calendar is full of events with the regular season, international events, local leagues, and the complete efforts of a Federation that works under the motto: “Together we are more.”

FIBA