'Magic' tickets sell well

JAKARTA (JP): More than 5,000 tickets for the Magic Johnson All Stars shows have been sold, an organizer said yesterday.

Ary Sudarsono, the host of the one-off basketball event, said that 5,000 tickets have been paid for and another 9,000 have been booked.

Promoter Marcel Maulana of PT Trimuda Jantra Paramitra said Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who was banned from entering Indonesia in 1994 due to his HIV, and his team are to meet Indonesia Muda and Satria Muda on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 respectively at the Senayan Indoor Stadium.

Johnson, who was a member of the LA Lakers and the first American Dream Team, is to contribute the gate fee collected from the two matches to the Lions Club, which is affiliated to the Lions Club Dian Mas Purnama.

The All Stars team is expected to arrive on Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. and later in the day go to Blok M Plaza to meet fans.

The tickets are being sold for between Rp 50,000 (US$21) and Rp 225,000. (yan)