GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 20, 2025.– Costa Rica advanced to the gold medal match of the men’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, defeating Panama in straight sets 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-18) in the semifinals.
The last time both teams reached the podium was in 2013, when Costa Rica claimed silver and Panama bronze. This time, Costa Rica awaits the winner between Nicaragua and Belize for the gold medal match, while Panama will play for bronze against the loser.
The opening set was tight, with both sides trading points until 16-all, when Costa Rica began to pull away thanks to Ignacio Morales Sánchez and Gilberth Solano. A series of unforced errors from Panama allowed Costa Rica to widen the gap, reaching set point at 24-20 after a strong attack by Solano. Morales Sánchez sealed the set 25-22.
In the second set, Costa Rica maintained control with a steady two to three-point lead. Stanley Grant pushed his team to a 19-16 advantage, and with a block from Jeremy Vanega, a Panamanian error, and another powerful hit from Grant, Costa Rica closed the set 25-21 to go up 2-0.
Costa Rica continued its dominance in the third set, jumping to a 4-0 lead and showing solid defense and fluid offense. Grant and Solano remained the main offensive weapons, and two consecutive kills from Solano sealed the match 25-18.
Costa Rica outperformed Panama in attacks (50-35) and blocks (5-3), while both teams registered one ace. Panama committed fewer errors (19 to 22).
Top scorers for Costa Rica were Stanley Grant with 24 points and Gilberth Solano with 16, while Gherson Ortiz led Panama with 14 points, the only player from his team in double digits.
Costa Rican captain Andrés Araya reflected on the team’s performance: “It was expected that the first set would be tense; there was a lot of anxiety within the team. We came well prepared to execute our tactical plan. After winning the first set, we felt more comfortable and got into our rhythm, following our strategy. It was a team effort. We’re undefeated, and our goal is to finish that way.”
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