Panama Secures Bronze Medal in Men’s U19 3×3 Basketball at South American Youth Games

Panama’s men’s under-19 3×3 basketball team captured the bronze medal at the IV Juegos Suramericanos de la Juventud Panama 2026 by defeating Venezuela 13-11 in overtime at the Mirador del Pacífico venue in Panama City on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

The victory came after a tightly contested match that remained tied at 11-11 through regulation time, forcing an overtime period where Panama demonstrated superior composure to secure the two points needed for victory.

Saul Guevara led Panama’s scoring effort with eight points, while Dylan Lemon contributed three points. Omairo Bailey and Jorge Aldeano each added one point to the team’s total. On the Venezuelan side, Edwar Guaramato and Diego Aponte were the top scorers with four points each.

Panama advanced to the bronze medal match after suffering a 19-5 semifinal loss to Uruguay. Venezuela reached the consolation game following a 16-14 defeat to Paraguay in their semifinal encounter.

The medal ceremony took place immediately after the conclusion of the match at the Mirador del Pacífico, with Panama’s athletes standing on the podium to receive their bronze medals amid celebrations from the home crowd.

This achievement marks Panama’s first medal in the 3×3 basketball competition at the South American Youth Games, highlighting the growing competitiveness of the nation’s youth basketball program on the continental stage.

The IV Juegos Suramericanos de la Juventud Panama 2026 continue through the week, featuring various sports disciplines across multiple venues in the host city.

Fans interested in following the ongoing competition can consult the official games website for updated schedules, results, and medal standings as the tournament progresses toward its conclusion.