Photo taken by Estely Benítez

La Liga Bilingue is one of the most anticipated tournaments through all basketball categories, well-known for its competitive spirit and the opportunity it provides for teams to showcase their skills and sportsmanship on a national stage. In this significant championship, schools such as Academia Britanica Cuscatleca (ABC), CISS, The American School, Colegio Maya, and Colegio La Floresta participated for the prestigious title and the honor of being the best in their category.

The event kicked off in late December and concluded in mid-February, with matches hosted by the participating schools. The tournament consisted in two sets of matches where these teams competed to score as many points as possible to win the title. In the first set, each team faced off the other. Colegio La Floresta and CISS emerged as the top two opponents, with CISS leading first in the head-to-head match, scoring 35-28 in the first match. Another intense match took place between Colegio La Floresta and the American School. LF winning in the first part of the match, but later the American School made a remarkable counter back with extraordinary baskets defense, showing a challenging game and technique in the tournament. Nonetheless, Colegio La Floresta triumphed in that match, scoring 33- 25. The standings after the first set were: 1st place CISS, 2nd La Floresta, American School 3rd, Colegio Maya 4th , and ultimately ABC 5th.

Later on, the second round was way tougher than the first one, proving that a bigger challenge was to come for the teams. Colegio La Floresta remained undefeated throughout the matches that follow: Colegio Maya vs Colegio La Floresta 21-45, ABC vs Colegio La Floresta 0-77, American School vs Colegio La Floresta: 27-35, and the last match between CISS vs Colegio La Floresta, which we will discuss next in this article.

The final showdown between the two dominant teams, CISS and Colegio La Floresta, was a game full of strategy and excitement, generating tension and requiring full concentration in the passing of the ball, scoring, and free throws. The final match took place on Tuesday, February 18th 2025 at Colegio La Floresta’s Gym, starting at 4pm. This crucial match would determine the winner of this prestigious tournament, which was truly important for both teams. In the first quarter of the game, Colegio la Floresta took the lead, but CISS quickly caught up, generating full tension in the team and their supporters. By halftime, CISS was slightly ahead, but both teams returned fresh, with renewed determination and motivation in the second half, fully aware that this was their last chance to claim the title.

Despite their exhaustion, the girls from Colegio La Floresta never gave up, showcasing their full potential and regaining the lead. The game was tougher than expected, with CISS scoring many points. As the game continued, incredible passes from Alexa Montoya and Melanie Alas, the unique dribbling skills of Camila Saldaña, the exceptional defense by Valentina Guzman, Elena Zablah, and Sofia Castillo, and the refined shooting from Sofia Herrera, Jenny Quezada, and Estely Hernandez, it was evident that teamwork was truly essential in every single aspect.

In the final minutes, Jenny Quezada and Estely Hernandez scored the crucial three points, providing relief to the suspenseful moments. As the final whistle blew, the excitement was palpable in the air, and the team celebrated their hard-earned victory. Colegio La Floresta emerged as the champions of the tournament with a final score of 37-25.

Throughout this thrilling display of talent, teamwork, and sportsmanship, the U19 basketball team from Colegio La Floresta won the Championship title, leaving an indelible and companionship mark on the tournament. This victory is one of many achievements for our U19 basketball team, demonstrating the dedication of each teammate and their love for this amazing sport.

Photo taken by Estely Hernández