Megawati to close women's league

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri is expected to close the Kobanita women's basketball league at Sumantri Brojonegoro Hall on Jl. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, on Saturday.

The league's 2000 Rexona Final Four will feature defending champion Wismilak CLS and Sahabat, both of Surabaya, Rajawali of Bandung and home team Mahaputri. The semis will take place on Friday, with the final on Saturday.

The chief of the organizing committee, Max B. Lani of Bakrie Pesona Rasuna, said a room had been arranged for VIP guests.

"We have set up a special room for invitees. In the room, one can open the glass door to hand over the trophy from the podium," he said during a media conference on Tuesday.

The Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi) deputy official in charge of the women's league, Julisa Rastafari, said she was still waiting for Megawati to confirm she will close the event after the final ends at about 10 p.m.

She also said that this year was the first time the event was being held separately from the men's league semifinal and final matches.

"Before 2000, we usually staged the event at the same time as the men's league semis and final. As a consequence, we didn't have spectators," she said.

She also said Perbasi had received new sponsorships from Rexona deodorant, Bakrie Pesona Rasuna, Pasar Festival, Adidas, Hanamasa Japanese restaurant, BOLA sports tabloid, Perhimpunan Persahabatan Indonesia Amerika, Yayasan LIA, ERA Indonesia, Kratingdaeng and ADES. (ivy)