Costa Rica’s senior men’s national team secured its spot in the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Pre-Qualifying Tournament after defeating El Salvador 85-77 at the José Adolfo Pineda National Gymnasium, a result that earned them the only Central American berth available for this phase on the road to the continental tournament. This achievement consolidates the strong momentum of Costa Rican basketball at the national team level and adds to the preparation work that the Costa Rican Basketball Federation (FECOBA) had been carrying out ahead of this qualifying process.

A Key Victory Against El Salvador

In the decisive match of the Central American Pre-Qualifying round, Costa Rica set the tempo from the first quarter, building an early lead of 22-15 thanks to effective defense and high offensive efficiency. Despite El Salvador’s reaction in the second half, the team coached by Nicolás Marín managed to control the margin and closed the game with a score of 85-77, confirming their qualification for the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Pre-Qualifying Tournament.

Standout Players on the Costa Rican Squad

Among the most notable individual performances from the Costa Rican team, Daniel Shedden with 20 points and Manrique Alvarado with 18 were decisive in maintaining the lead at key moments of the game. On the Salvadoran side, Marquise Mosley finished as the game’s top scorer with 33 points, but his performance was not enough to overcome the margin Costa Rica had built in the opening periods.

The Coaching Staff’s Vision and the Road to 2029

Head coach Nicolás Marín emphasized after the game the difficulty of the match and the intensity of the opponent, highlighting the growth of basketball in El Salvador and the competitiveness of its young players. FECOBA has underscored that this qualification is part of a planned process that includes official call-ups, training camps, and preparatory games, with the goal of having the national team arrive in the best possible condition for the upcoming windows on the road to AmeriCup 2029.

Impact for Costa Rican Basketball

Costa Rica’s advancement to the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Pre-Qualifying Tournament represents an opportunity to give greater international visibility to national basketball and open doors for new generations of players at the regional elite level. It also strengthens the country’s positioning within the FIBA Americas structure, backing the development efforts that FECOBA drives in both national leagues and youth training programs.

Official Sources

• Costa Rican Basketball Federation (FECOBA): official website and communiqué “Costa Rica Advances to the Next Phase of the Pre-Qualifying Round Toward AmeriCup 2029,” published on March 22, 2026.
• Match information on Costa Rica vs. El Salvador and the Central American Pre-Qualifying round for FIBA AmeriCup 2029, distributed by leading regional media outlets.