National players may play in Libama
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian national basketball players will be allowed to represent their respective universities in the 2000 National Students Basketball League (Libama) at Soemantri Brodjonegoro basketball hall in Kuningan, South Jakarta.
The Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi) official in charge of Libama Imroni H. told a media briefing Monday that basketball players competing in the national basketball league (Kobatama) were welcome to join their universities' teams.
Fifteen men's and nine women's teams from universities and colleges from 10 provinces have confirmed their participation in Libama to be staged between March 1 and March 10.
"Many universities' officials asked us to allow their students, also playing in Kobatama, to represent their alma mater," he said.
Imroni said so far Perbasi had given a green light to such a request.
"We do not limit the amount of Kobatama's players in the universities' teams but only those aged between 18 and 23 years old are allowed to compete in Libama."
Imroni also said that women's basketball players who attended the training program for the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games were also welcome to compete in Libama.
"There are only a few women's players in Libama so we allow the players who are groomed for SEA Games to perform in the Libama. We're not afraid of injury risk as it happens anywhere and anytime, not only in a league competition. An athlete who attends a training program is prone to injury," he said.
The 2001 Libama is scheduled to take place in November. The March league was a delayed program from its original schedule in November 2000.
Libama will also feature the SEA Games national team in an exhibition in the final match on March 10. There will also be a percussion and modern dance performance by students of Jakarta Art Institute (IKJ).
Men's team defending champion of Kediri University of East Java and women's team defending champion STIE Perbanas Jakarta are expected to compete at the league. (ivy)