Proliga volleyball takes to the court next week
Proliga volleyball takes to the court next week
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After being postponed from mid-February due to the Dec. 26
tsunami, the 2005 Sampoerna Hijau Proliga volleyball competition
will open begin next week.
Head of the Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI) Rita
Wibowo said on Thursday that Proliga would be held in Jakarta,
Bandung, Yogyakarta and Gresik in East Java.
Jakarta will host the first series of matches from March 4 to
March 6, followed by Bandung (March 11-13), Jakarta (March 18-
20), Gresik (April 8-10), Jakarta (April 15-17) and Yogyakarta
(April 22-24).
"We're sure that people have been waiting for the tourney,
which was postponed following the devastating tsunami disaster in
Aceh," Rita told a news conference.
The six men's teams are Jakarta Electric PLN Jakarta 46 BNI,
Surabaya Samator, Jakarta Monas Bank DKI, Yogya Yuso and Jakarta
P2B Sananta.
Jakarta Electric PLN, Jakarta 46 BNI, Gresik Phonska Bak,
Jakarta Monas Bank DKI, Yogya Muso and Bandung Art Deco Bank
Jabar will play in the women's division
Proliga, which began in 2002, will comprise two rounds this
year, with one round consisting of three series of matches.
With a total purse of Rp 410 million, the winning teams each
receive Rp 75 million.
During the break between the two rounds from March 21 until
April 8, Semarang will hold an exhibition match of Proliga all
stars, who will be selected through the polling of spectators and
journalists.
Several foreign players, including from Brazil, the U.S., Peru
and Australia, are also scheduled to play for local teams during
the event.
Rita also said that the Indonesian's men volleyball team would
participate in the qualifying tournament for the 2008 Olympic
Games in Cebu, the Philippines, from March 1-March 6.
"This is the first time for Indonesia to play in the
qualification for the 2008 Olympic Games with a target to secure
one of two berths for the next round," Rita said.
Indonesia will compete against Chinese Taipei, the
Philippines, Macau and Tonga in the qualifying tournament, she
added.
Only 11 players will take part in the qualifying as Andri
Widiatmoko is still suffering from a leg injury.