SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, July 12, 2026. – Belize displayed character and determination to pull off a surprising 3-2 (25-21, 20-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-12) victory over host Costa Rica in the final match of the opening day of the 3rd AFECAVOL Men’s Final Four.
After surrendering the second and third sets, Belize responded with resilience, regained control in the fourth set, and held its composure in the decisive fifth to secure the victory.
The match was evenly contested in the main statistical categories. Both teams finished tied in attacks (57-57) and blocks (13-13), while Costa Rica held a slight edge in service aces (2-0). The difference came in unforced errors, with Costa Rica committing 35 compared to Belize’s 31.
Kaelen Ingram led Belize’s offense with 23 points, supported by Francis Hauze with 16 and Ernest Broaster with 15.
For Costa Rica, Gilberth Solano was the team’s leading scorer with 21 points, while Jhostin Valera added 15 and Ignacio Sánchez contributed 13.
On the second day of competition, Belize will face Nicaragua, which opened the tournament with a straight-set victory over Panama, while Costa Rica will look to bounce back against Panama.
Following the victory, Elton Anderson, captain of Belize, said: “In any tournament, it’s always important to win your first match because it gives the team confidence and momentum heading into the next one. Our blocking was the key to the victory. Costa Rica is a great team with a strong attack, but blocking is a fundamental part of our game.”
Meanwhile, Andrés Araya, captain of Costa Rica, commented: “We came up against a very aggressive Belize team throughout the match, and it was difficult for us to impose our style of play. The opening match is always challenging, but we have to give Belize credit—they played a great match. Now it’s time for us to focus on the next one.”
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