Santo Domingo.– Dominican basketball player Esmery Martínez celebrated winning the gold medal in women’s 3×3 basketball at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, an achievement she described as unforgettable.
“For me, it is an unforgettable achievement and I truly feel happy about that achievement”, expressed Martínez to a De Último Minuto team prior to the celebration of the caravan organized by the Ministry of Sports.
The player, one of the most experienced on the Dominican team, highlighted that throughout the match she kept encouraging her teammates so they would not lower their intensity until the very last second.
“The game is over when the time is at zero”, stated Martínez, while recalling the decisive moment of the match. She explained that she constantly encouraged her teammates not to give up and to maintain their focus until the game ended.
Martínez also played a decisive role in the closing of the match, by scoring a basket when the clock began to wind down and the Dominican victory was getting closer and closer.
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The champion highlighted the emotion she felt while playing the final in front of a large number of Dominican fans who came to support the team with flags and displays of encouragement.
“I felt happy, I felt super special, since I was able to play in front of the eyes of a large audience here, from the Dominican Republic. I felt super excited, honestly,” she stated.
When asked which of the teams faced during the tournament represented the greatest challenge, Martínez responded with confidence: “None, all easy”, amidst laughter.
A medal with a special dedication
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The player dedicated the medal, first and foremost, to God and her family, but she also wanted to extend the recognition to the new generations making their way in sports.
“First of all to God and to my family and to the new youth that is growing up,” he expressed.
After winning the gold, Martínez expressed her readiness to enjoy the celebration with the Dominican people and anticipated the motorcade that will travel through the streets to celebrate the triumphs achieved by the country’s athletes.
With her characteristic enthusiasm, the champion left a message for the Dominicans celebrating the victory: “He who wins is he who enjoys”.
