In celebration of their return and historic first-place finish at the Association of Central American Volleyball Federations tournament, a motorcade was held in honor of Belize's National Men's Volleyball Team.
We caught up with some of the players right before the parade and spoke with them about their experience of victory and the joy of coming home draped in gold:
Ernest Broaster Jr., Outside Hitter, National Men's Volleyball Team
"Just going there in the first set said from the start, bring the energy from the start and we won that first set, second set same thing again. And then after that second set win we saw the light at the end, but our energy dropped a little in the third set and then we brought it back in the fourth and then we won it."
"The feeling was surreal, you know. Just all the years my dad was playing-from my dad was playing he was trying to get that gold and you know, for me, the second generation years after, we won that gold so it was so real, we are on cloud nine right now."
Jomarie Lanza:
"What was it like being under such intense pressure under the final game against Costa Rica?"
Kaelen Ingram, Opposite Attacker, National Men's Volleyball Team
"It was a good feeling honestly because pressure is a true privilege. So being in front of such a huge fan base and playing the sport that we love, it is a great honor actually."
Jomarie Lanza:
"So what do you think helped you guys to secure that win coming down to that last set?"
Kaelen Ingram, Opposite Attacker, National Men's Volleyball Team
"It's just saying if not now, then when? We were tired of coming here to the same tournament and not getting the medal that we know that we deserve and you know, we are just going to get it now."
The motorcade finished at the Marion Jones Stadium a short while ago.
