IO – The main director of the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL), Junas Miradiarsjah, could not hide his sadness at failing to hold the IBL 2020 competition with a bubble concept. The competition, which was scheduled to be held on October 13-27 at Mahaka Square Arena Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, had to be canceled because it did not get permission from the Indonesian National Police.
“We apologize to all Indonesian basketball players; we must be proud to accept this cancellation. Health and safety are currently the main concerns,” said Junas.
“We have to announce this before the clubs depart ahead of the October 13th competition and of course we all need to respect what the government has decided, despite all the preparations that have been made. All IBL participating clubs have been informed about this cancellation”.
Preparations for holding the continued bubble for the 2020 IBL Pertamax Competition are very mature. Health guidelines and protocols became a major concern in the implementation, even though it was only two weeks of implementation. IBL also confirmed this by collaborating with the Pertamedika Hospital for the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test facility as well as being a referral hospital if something untoward happened.
Hotel Santika Kelapa Gading, which is the location for the lodging of all bubble participants, has also prepared an isolation room and a special pathway to the arena which is confirmed to be sterile, then there is also a 24-hour clinic controlled by an IBL partner, namely the Royal Progress Hospital. IBL has obtained implementation recommendation letters according to the required stages, including support from the local government.
“At this time we are grateful that all clubs and players have followed the discipline protocol that has been made and until now all are in good health. Hopefully, the pandemic will soon subside and we will all continue to be given health and protection until the return of the highest basketball competition in the country,” said Junas. (rp)