Havana, November 1 (RHC) – The Cuban women’s national team took another firm step this Sunday in the 3×3 Basketball Americas Cup of El Salvador 2026 by beating the hosts 21-18 in the quarterfinals, a result that placed them in the semifinals and kept their undefeated record in the tournament intact.
The victory against El Salvador was spearheaded by Keila Sagarra, who scored 13 points, while Anisleidy Galindo added six. With this offensive support, Cuba controlled the end of the game and prevented the home crowd’s energy from tipping the scales.
Sagarra also delivered a statistically impressive performance: she registered the highest efficiency rating for a player with 17.1 points and a shooting efficiency of 0.93. Her stats included three successful shots on four single-point attempts and five successful shots on eight two-point attempts.
She also grabbed four rebounds, leading the game in rebounding. The combination of outside shooting, work under the boards, and clutch play proved crucial in securing Cuba’s place in the semifinals.
With this victory, the Cuban team has now won all six of its games, counting its three wins in the qualifying round, its two victories in the group stage, and its recent quarterfinal win. The undefeated record reinforces the performance of a team that has proven its ability to win close matches.
In the group stage, Cuba defeated Chile 14-13 and Mexico 18-17, both games decided in the final seconds. Now, in addition to their 21-18 victory over El Salvador, they have secured another win, confirming the team’s capacity to compete until the final buzzer.
Their next challenge will be in the semifinals against the United States, a more demanding opponent with extensive experience in this format. The Cuban women arrive with confidence, but also with the need to maintain the focus and precision that have allowed them to string together victories.
With this performance, they have already surpassed their eighth-place finish from the previous edition held in Puerto Rico in 2014, so any progress is a victory for the Cubans.
