Double podium for Puerto Rico in bowling trios: silver and bronze at Santo Domingo 2026

Puerto Rico dominated the podium in the men's bowling trios competition at the Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, capturing both the silver and bronze medals in a historic showing at the Sebelen Bowling Center. The feat marks the first time the island has placed two teams on the podium in the same bowling event at these Games, reaffirming Puerto Rico's program as a regional powerhouse in the sport of pins.

The trio of David Marquez, Israel Hernandez, and Jean Perez claimed silver with a pin count of 4,050, while the second team of Edgar Burgos, Jorge Rodriguez, and Cristian Azcona secured bronze with 4,024 pins ¹. Mexico took gold with a dominant mark of 4,212 pins, led by Marcelo Magrassi, Enrique Gutierrez, and Hector Pina ². Despite the gold slipping away, the mere 26-pin gap between the two Puerto Rican teams demonstrates the depth of talent the island possesses in bowling.

These two medals represent the third and fourth bowling medals for the Puerto Rican delegation at Santo Domingo 2026. Previously, Sarah Sanes and Zoriana Reyes had won bronze in women's doubles on Tuesday ³. With these four medals, the bowling program matches its haul from San Salvador 2023, where the island also earned four medals, including two golds ¹.

The achievement comes amid a strong overall performance by the Puerto Rican delegation, which has accumulated 33 medals in total — 8 gold, 9 silver, and 16 bronze — sitting in seventh place on the overall medal table, tied with Guatemala ⁴. Bowling contributes a significant percentage of that medal count, establishing itself as one of the most consistent sports for the island in Central American and Caribbean competitions.

Journalist Sara Del Valle Hernandez, who covered the competition from the Sebelen Bowling Center, highlighted that both Puerto Rican trios maintained steady performance throughout the six games of the event, without dramatic drops that could have cost them positions. The key was consistency: neither the silver team nor the bronze team had a single game below expectations, which speaks to the preparation level of the national program ¹.

What this means for you

This double podium is no fluke. It reflects years of investment in developing competitive bowling in Puerto Rico, a sport that often doesn't receive the same media attention as basketball, baseball, or volleyball. For Puerto Rican fans, it's a reminder that the island produces world-class athletes in disciplines that go far beyond traditional sports.

For young bowlers on the island, seeing six compatriots on the podium at the same time is concrete inspiration. This isn't about a single exceptional talent — it's about a complete program that can produce multiple competitive teams at the regional level. Moreover, with four bowling medals already matching the San Salvador 2023 mark, the team competitions on Thursday remain, meaning Puerto Rico could surpass its all-time best haul in this sport.

Checklist

1. Tune in to the women's and men's team bowling competitions scheduled for Thursday, July 31, where Puerto Rico has real chances to add more medals.
2. Follow the overall Santo Domingo 2026 medal standings — Puerto Rico sits 7th with 33 medals and could climb in the final days of competition.
3. Support local bowling by visiting bowling centers in your area and joining recreational or competitive leagues that feed into the national program.
4. Get to know the athletes: look up David Marquez, Israel Hernandez, Jean Perez, Edgar Burgos, Jorge Rodriguez, and Cristian Azcona on social media to follow their careers.
5. Share the double-podium news with family and friends so Puerto Rican bowling gets the recognition it deserves.

What comes next

The bowling action doesn't end here. On Thursday, July 31, the team competitions for both women and men take place at the same Sebelen Bowling Center ¹². Riding the momentum of this double podium in trios, Puerto Rico's bowlers arrive with confidence and experience on the Dominican lanes. If Puerto Rico medals in the team event, it would surpass the four medals from San Salvador 2023, setting a new record for the bowling program at the Central American and Caribbean Games.

In the broader Games picture, the Puerto Rican delegation has several important finals pending, including the men's volleyball gold medal match against Colombia and the beach volleyball and women's basketball semifinals. With 33 medals and several more competition days ahead, Puerto Rico aims to close out Santo Domingo 2026 with one of its best-ever performances at the regional competition.

Sources:

• ¹ El Nuevo Dia - Double podium in bowling trios at Santo Domingo 2026
• ² Primera Hora - Puerto Rico earns double podium with silver and bronze in bowling trios
• ³ El Vocero - Puerto Rico adds another bronze in bowling with Sarah Sanes and Zoriani Reyes
• ⁴ El Nuevo Dia - Puerto Rico has 33 medals at the Santo Domingo 2026 Games