La Paz and Los Cabos dominate the 2026 State Basketball Championship and advance to the Regional phase

The 2026 State Basketball Championship has reached its exciting conclusion, leaving La Paz as the host city and two municipalities as the main protagonists of the tournament. The representative teams of La Paz and Los Cabos emerged as the big winners of the competition, securing the highest number of gold medals in the different categories. The event was crucial in defining the teams that will advance to the regional level.

The state tournament, meticulously organized by the Sudcalifornian Sports Institute (INSUDE), was held over three days of high competitive intensity. The matches were played in two of the capital's most important venues: the State Auditorium and the Multiple Use Gymnasium (GUM). The host city demonstrated its capacity to host events of this magnitude.

The participation of the municipalities in this edition of the championship was robust. In total, 43 teams from various localities, including Mulegé, Comondú, and Loreto, gathered in La Paz to compete for the coveted tickets to the next phase. This massive attendance confirms the widespread interest and development level achieved by youth basketball across the state.

The host municipality, La Paz, claimed an impressive haul of three gold medals, confirming its dominance in key categories. The La Paz teams took first place in the 2008 Female category, the 2009 Female division, and triumphed in the 2009 Male category. This triple victory solidifies La Paz's position as a powerhouse in the state's grassroots basketball.

For its part, the municipality of Los Cabos demonstrated its competitive strength, securing two gold medals for its delegation. The Los Cabos teams triumphed in the highly competitive 2008 Male category, a traditionally hard-fought and high-level division. Additionally, they secured the championship in the 2006/2007 Female category, showcasing the quality of their sports training processes.

It is important to emphasize that the victory achieved by the winning teams has an immediate and transcendental reward. The squads that won the gold medal and the state championship now officially secure their spot to participate in the regional phase of the 2026 CONADE National Games. This is the next step in the qualifying process toward the National Games, which represent the highest level of youth competition in Mexico.

The rest of the participating municipalities played a fundamental role in raising the tournament's level. Teams from Comondú, Mulegé, and Loreto, although they did not win the majority of the golds, provided stiff competition to the finalists throughout the three days. This is a positive indicator that talent identification and sports development are growing across the entire state, not just in the large urban centers.

The Sudcalifornian Sports Institute (INSUDE) highlighted the relevance of these types of championships. The tournament is not only a space for competition but serves as the main showcase for state scouts and coaches to identify players with the greatest potential. It is the crucial step for the future integration of the pre-selections and selections that will represent Baja California Sur in the national events.

The champion teams, both from La Paz and Los Cabos, will now begin a phase of intensive training and specialized preparation. The goal is clear: to maintain the level of play and correct observed weaknesses to successfully face the regional stage. In this upcoming phase, they will compete against the best teams from neighboring states in the northwest of the country.

The success of this State Basketball Championship underscores the commitment of sports and municipal authorities. The event not only boosted high-performance competition but also promoted physical activity and the values of discipline and fair play among Sudcalifornian youth, ensuring a promising sports future for the state.