{"id":46657,"date":"2026-04-22T10:53:35","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T14:53:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/?p=46657"},"modified":"2026-04-22T10:53:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T14:53:35","slug":"since-1986-historic-qualification-of-the-sagrado-dolphins-to-the-basketball-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/since-1986-historic-qualification-of-the-sagrado-dolphins-to-the-basketball-final\/","title":{"rendered":"Since 1986: Historic qualification of the Sagrado Dolphins to the basketball final"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The UAGM Ta\u00ednos and UPR Mayag\u00fcez Juanas complete the finalist bracket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
The USC Dolphins celebrate their qualification for the LAI basketball final. Their last championship was in 1986. (Roberto J. Rivera Guzm\u00e1n for the LAI)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

By LAI Press<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday, April 20, 2026 (San Juan, Puerto Rico)<\/strong> \u2013 The Dolphins of the University of the Sacred Heart (Sagrado) made history Monday night by becoming the newest team to reach a basketball final in the Intercollegiate Athletic League (LAI), an achievement the institution had not celebrated since 1986. The feat marks a sporting resurgence for the Sagrado program and places them at the center of the university sports conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In front of a packed arena full of Dolphins fans, the USC squad sealed their qualification with a 70\u201367 victory over their visitors, the Tigers of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico (UIPR). It was a dramatic finish filled with tension, anticipation, and intense pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For head coach Guayito Santiago, the emotion of the moment was evident. His team even dumped a cooler of cold water on him during his interview with the media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a huge achievement for the university. We\u2019re extremely happy. It\u2019s my first year, and also for Quique, my assistant. These players deserve what they\u2019ve accomplished. We\u2019re not done yet,\u201d he said after the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the far right, Guayito Santiago gives instructions while a fan cheers on the Dolphins during the game. (Roberto J. Rivera Guzm\u00e1n for the LAI)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sagrado controlled the first half with a 28\u201324 lead and extended it to 50\u201340 in the third quarter. However, the UIPR Tigers did not back down. Despite the pressure of playing on the road, they mounted a 27\u201320 run in the final period that put the home team in serious trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks to God, this is because of Him and the faith we\u2019ve had all season. It\u2019s God. This is thanks to God,\u201d said one of Sagrado\u2019s most valuable players, Keven Adorno, who dedicated the finals appearance to his father, currently recovering from a workplace accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sagrado\u2019s top scorers were Jos\u00e9 Vargas with 17 points, along with Adorno and Christian Col\u00f3n, who each added 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
The president of USC, Gilberto Marxuach, watches his USC Dolphins during the game. (Roberto J. Rivera Guzm\u00e1n for the LAI)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A new champion will emerge in the men\u2019s series<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sagrado will face the Ta\u00ednos of Ana G. M\u00e9ndez University, a team that eliminated the 2025 champions, the Hawks of Central University of Bayam\u00f3n. They secured a 64\u201360 victory at home in Gurabo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UAGM has not won a championship since its unification as a private educational system in 2018\u20132019. Their closest achievement was a runner-up finish in 2024, when they faced the Tarzans of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayag\u00fcez campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading UAGM\u2019s offense were four players in double figures: Gregory Limage (13 points), Jos\u00e9 Medina (11), Eriam Cuevas (12), and \u00c1ngel P\u00e9rez (10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Juanas return to the final<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the Juanas of UPR Mayag\u00fcez are back in the university basketball final. The LAI runners-up defeated the Ta\u00ednas of UAGM 63\u201355 at the Gurabo campus. Their opponent is a familiar one: the defending champions, the Cowgirls (Vaqueras) of UPR Bayam\u00f3n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standout players for the Mayag\u00fcez squad were Lyan L\u00f3pez (19 points), Yeikamarie Jim\u00e9nez (17), and Arianna Sierra (12).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The quarter scores were 16\u201311, 13\u201317, 15\u201315, and 19\u201313. UPR Mayag\u00fcez dominated the paint with 38 points, and their largest lead of the game was 12 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tickets on sale through Ticketera<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The final series begins Saturday, April 25, with a second game on Monday, April 27, and, if necessary, a third game on Tuesday, April 28, at the Palacio de Recreaci\u00f3n y Deportes in Mayag\u00fcez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The women\u2019s game will be played at 6:00 p.m., followed by the men\u2019s game at 8:00 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bronze medal game will take place on Sunday, April 26, starting at 4:00 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tickets are available through the Ticketera platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For updates on the Intercollegiate Athletic League, visit https:\/\/laipr.org<\/a> and follow their Facebook and Instagram pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

97 years developing leaders with passion<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Intercollegiate Athletic League was founded in 1929 and currently includes 17 institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ten belong to the public education system, represented by the University of Puerto Rico campuses in Carolina, R\u00edo Piedras, Bayam\u00f3n, Arecibo, Aguadilla, Mayag\u00fcez, Ponce, Humacao, Utuado, and Cayey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group is completed by private institutions: the University of the Sacred Heart, Interamerican University, Central University of Bayam\u00f3n, Caribbean University, Pontifical Catholic University, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, and Ana G. M\u00e9ndez University. The total number of student-athletes across all institutions is around 4,000.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The UAGM Ta\u00ednos and UPR Mayag\u00fcez Juanas complete the finalist bracket. By LAI Press Monday, April 20, 2026 (San Juan, Puerto Rico) \u2013 The Dolphins of the University of the Sacred Heart (Sagrado) made history […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":46651,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3696,3695,3674],"tags":[4357,5115,5398,3731,4326,5110],"class_list":["post-46657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english-en","category-featured","category-sports","tag-dolphins","tag-lai-2","tag-lai-2026","tag-sagrado-en","tag-sports-2","tag-universidad-del-sagrado-corazon-3"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46657"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46657\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46661,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46657\/revisions\/46661"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}