Kobatama to preserve players ruling

Kobatama to preserve players ruling

JAKARTA (JP): The national basketball league, Kobatama, will
kick off its third season next month with foreign players
preserving their old roles.

The league's administrator, Budi Rustanto, made sure yesterday
that each of the 10 participating clubs will field two foreign
signings in every game it plays this season.

"It's absolutely a matter of sponsors," Budi said after a
meeting with the 10 clubs. He added that the decision was
originally made during a meeting between the Indonesian
Basketball Association and the National Sports Council last
month.

Budi earlier pushed the idea of reducing the number of foreign
players to only one for each club in a game, saying that import
cagers tend to be too dominant and reduce their local teammates
to mere assistants.

The league opened it doors to foreign players in 1994. But a
recent move that requires a club hires at least one imported
player has caused Halim of Kediri, East Java, to pull out of the
league. Previously relegated Glory of Semarang, Central Java will
take Halim's place.

Yesterday's meeting disclosed that 10 foreign cagers who
played last season had extended their contracts with their
respective clubs. Budi said basketball enthusiasts will see
newcomers from Russia join the league.

Ary Sudarsono, administrative director of the league, said
that the league will kick off in Surabaya on April 9. The opening
match will be aired by the Surabaya-based private TV network
SCTV, one of the sponsors of the league.

The second leg will be played in Semarang. The league will
then move to Jakarta for the third leg, and will wind up in Bogor
and Cirebon, West Java.

Ary said that defending champion Aspac planned to invite an
NBA player in the final leg. Aspac, however, has yet to give more
details on the rare guest. (05)