In an exciting match from start to finish, El Salvador beat Guyana 92-90 yesterday on the third day of the Americas Pre-qualifier for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
And, unlike the match against Costa Rica, the Salvadoran team He showed a better face, more dedication, claw, sacrifice and greater effectiveness in front of the rim.
“I have to congratulate the team, because today (yesterday) throughout the game we put our hearts, that gave us the victory. We managed to come back to take a more than deserved victory. Also thank the fans because half a victory belongs to the fans, because we were dead, tired, but they gave us that extra to win the game, “said Ray Santana, coach of El Salvador.
To start the game, Santana chose to send Mauricio Lahud, Eduardo Escalante, Roberto Martínez, Ronnie Aguilar and Bryan García to the floor of the José Adolfo Pineda National Gymnasium. And the bet paid off, since it was the Cuscatleca army that opened the scoring thanks to a triple by Lahud and henceforth the sAlvadorans did not release the lead on the scoreboard until they ended up taking over the first period 26-24.
For the second period, Guyana knew how to take advantage of the good aim of Delroy James who made the most of the shots from the line of three driving his team to reap 29 points and they managed to match the scoreboard 53-53.
In the third period, Guyana was clear dominator to such a degree of reaping 27 points against 14 for El Salvador, which generated that take advantage 80-67, which left the Salvadoran team on the ropes.
But it was there where the support of the fans and the dedication of the players took effect, since, with 1:20 left to finish the game, El Salvador managed to match the score 89-89, then Guyana, thanks to a foul, added a free throw point to go 90-89; but Bryan García appeared to score two points and put things 91-90; while Roberto Martínez, with a free kick and 17 seconds to go, decreed the final 92-90.
“We ask the fans not to stop believing, we have worked hard, we have sacrificed our family, weekends and everything, to give them these joys,” said Carlos Arias, captain of the national team.
This day El Salvador will face Nicaragua at 7:00 pm., in a vital match in Salvadoran aspirations to win one of the three tickets to the next stage of the Americas Pre-qualifier for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
