National players may play in Libama

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)