Kobatama season due to start late August

JAKARTA (JP): The National basketball league (Kobatama) will tip off its season on Aug. 31, with games scheduled to run until Dec. 5, organizers said.

"This year there are more Kobatama matches than last year... The matches will be divided into six legs plus the Laga Bintang (All-Star Game) and Final Four," Doddie Gambiro, an official from the Indonesian Basketball Association, said on Wednesday.

Doddie said the first games would be held in Cirebon from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5, and continue on to Malang (Sept. 11 to Sept. 16), Surabaya (Sept. 29 to Oct. 6), the All-Star Game in Yogyakarta (Oct. 10), Jakarta (Oct. 19 to Oct. 24), Solo (Oct. 27 to Nov. 1), Bandung (Nov. 13 to Nov. 20) and the Final Four (Dec. 4 and Dec. 5).

Teams in the Kobatama are divided into two groups. The first group comprises Panasia Indosyntec, Pacific Bank Swadesi, Cahaya Lestari Surabaya, Bima Sakti Nikko Steel and Bhinneka. The second group is made up of Aspac, Indonesia Muda Texmaco, Mahaka Satria Muda and Siliwangi.

Doddie also said no foreign players would be in the league this year.

"We want to show that our local players can play, and it is expensive to bring in foreign players now," Doddie said.

Kobatama matches will be broadcast by private television station SCTV on Thursdays and Saturdays.

SCTV will also broadcast highlights from the games and other shows related to the league.

Organizers will give a total of Rp 100 million to be divided by the teams in the league. Another Rp 100,000 will be awarded to each team's Most Valuable Player.

Doddie hoped the league would be able to attract spectators.

"Most of the spectators will come from the young people. We hope older people will also watch the games," Doddie said.

Mahaka Satria Muda coach Eric Tohir was enthusiastic about his team's chances of winning the title this year.

"I know it will be difficult, but I am confident my team can win the Kobatama." (lnt)