On September 20, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. local time in Chiriquí, Panama, the Belize National Under-23 Men's Volleyball team capped off a resilient tournament run by defeating El Salvador 3-1 (25-18, 14-25, 25-20, 25-23) in the fifth-place classification match of the VII AFECAVOL U23 Men's Central American ChampionshipChiriquí. The win secured fifth place — Belize’s best finish in the event since 2019 — despite a heartbreaking opening loss to host nation Panama that ultimately blocked their path to a medal.
Strong Performance, Narrow Miss
The Belize National Under-23 Men's Volleyball team finished the tournament with a 3-1 record, winning three straight matches after their 1-0 setback to Panama on September 16. But in a tournament where only the top two teams from each pool advanced to semifinals, that one loss proved decisive. Belize, placed in Pool A alongside Guatemala and Panama, lost their opener 25-22, 25-20, 25-19. From there, they roared back: wins over Honduras, Nicaragua, and finally El Salvador — each by narrow margins — showed remarkable resilience.Eliazar Mejía, Belize’s explosive outside hitter, delivered 19 points — including six kills in the decisive fourth set. Kaelen Ingram added 18, with Daniel Musa chipping in 11. Together, they accounted for nearly 80% of Belize’s offensive output. The team outperformed El Salvador in attack points (48-44) and blocks (7-5), but El Salvador’s service game was sharp, netting seven aces to Belize’s five. Both teams committed nearly identical unforced errors: 30 for Belize, 29 for El Salvador. It was a match of fine margins.
Coaches Reflect: Regret and Hope
Albert Humes, head coach of the Belize team, offered a candid assessment: "Overall, I’d give the team a B grade. I think we could have had a better tournament, but we slipped in our first match against Panama. Maybe in a round-robin format we could have achieved a better position since we only lost once in the tournament and still finished fifth." His comment underscored a bitter truth: Belize had the talent to challenge for bronze, but the tournament’s pool-and-cross-over structure punished early mistakes.For Andrea Genova, head coach of El Salvador, the result was a stepping stone. "We knew we were going to have a very tough tournament," she said. "Despite everything, we fought hard in every match. This experience is very valuable for our young players who are preparing for next year’s U19 tournament." El Salvador, fielding a squad with an average age under 19, used the event as a development platform — a strategy echoed by several other nations.
Tournament Structure and Context
The VII AFECAVOL U23 Men's Central American ChampionshipChiriquí featured seven teams: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama. The format, announced by NORCECA on September 12, divided teams into two pools. Pool A — Guatemala, Belize, Panama — was dubbed the "group of death" by Humes before the tournament began. Pool B, with Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras, was seen as slightly more balanced.Only the top two from each pool advanced to semifinals. The remaining teams competed for 5th–7th places. Belize’s path to fifth meant defeating the fourth-place finisher from Pool B — El Salvador — in a match that was as much about pride as it was about ranking. "We definitely ended up in the ‘group of death,’" Humes had said on September 15, before the first serve. He wasn’t wrong.
Why This Matters
For Belize, fifth place isn’t just a number — it’s momentum. Their previous best in this age group was seventh in 2021. This year’s performance, with three wins against regional rivals and a competitive showing against stronger teams, signals a rising standard. The team’s depth, particularly in attacking options, is improving. And for a country with limited resources for elite volleyball development, that’s significant.Meanwhile, El Salvador’s focus on youth development paid off. Several players under 18 saw key minutes — a deliberate move by Genova to prepare for the 2026 U19 Central American Championship. The tournament served as a critical testing ground for the next generation.
What’s Next?
The next AFECAVOL U23 Men's Central American Championship is scheduled for 2027. Belize’s coaching staff has already begun identifying players from regional clubs for next year’s training camps. Humes confirmed plans to bring in a sports psychologist and a video analyst — resources previously unavailable. "We’re not just building a team," he said. "We’re building a culture. This fifth place? It’s the foundation."For now, Belize’s players returned home with medals — not for podium finishes, but for effort. And sometimes, that’s enough to spark something bigger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn’t Belize win a medal despite only losing one match?
Belize lost their opening match to host nation Panama in Pool A, and only the top two teams from each pool advanced to the semifinals. Even though they won all three of their subsequent matches, the tournament’s bracket structure didn’t allow for a "best-of-the-rest" medal round. Their loss to Panama, combined with Panama’s strong performance, locked Belize into the classification bracket for fifth place — despite having a better overall win-loss record than some semifinalists.
Who were the standout players for Belize in the fifth-place match?
Eliazar Mejía led Belize with 19 points, including critical kills in the fourth set. Kaelen Ingram added 18 points, and Daniel Musa contributed 11, with strong defensive plays. Together, the trio accounted for 48 of Belize’s 56 total points. Their consistency under pressure — especially in the tight 25-23 fourth set — was the difference-maker against a resilient El Salvador side.
How does this result compare to Belize’s past performances in U23 volleyball?
This fifth-place finish is Belize’s best in the U23 Central American Championship since 2015, and their strongest since 2019, when they placed seventh. The 2021 tournament saw them finish eighth out of eight teams. The improvement reflects better preparation, more international exposure for players, and increased support from the Belize Volleyball Federation — though funding remains limited compared to regional rivals.
What role did NORCECA play in this tournament?
NORCECA, the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation, provided technical oversight, officiating staff, and tournament structure guidelines. They also approved the competition format announced on September 12, 2025, and collaborated with AFECAVOL on logistics. NORCECA’s involvement ensures the event meets international standards and counts toward regional rankings, which helps nations qualify for future continental events.
Why was El Salvador’s participation significant despite finishing seventh?
El Salvador’s team was intentionally young, with seven players under 19 — a deliberate strategy to prepare for the 2026 U19 Central American Championship. Coach Andrea Genova used the tournament as a development platform, giving minutes to newcomers and testing tactical systems. The experience gained by players like Abner Cano, who led all scorers in the fifth-place match with 23 points, will directly benefit their U19 squad next year.
Is there a chance Belize will compete in the 2026 U19 Championship?
No — the U19 Championship is for players under 19, while this was an U23 event. However, Belize’s U23 team includes several players who will age into the U19 category for 2026. The federation plans to transition key performers from this U23 squad into the U19 program, using their tournament experience as a foundation. That’s why Humes called this fifth-place finish "the foundation," not the finish line.
