Jakarta, IO – Despite being 180cm tall, Yolla Yuliana admitted to having never played basketball in her school years – simply because she was never interested in basketball. “Volleyball has always been my favorite sport,” admitted Yolla, who joined the junior national volleyball team at the age of 15.
However, Yolla admitted that she was happy to be invited to play basketball in the “Yuk Kita Basketan Bareng” 2023 FIBA World Cup Indonesia campaign at the BXHoops Basketball Court, South Tangerang, on Saturday, July 15, 2023.
She played with basketball players including Kelly Purwanto, Rizky Effendy, and two foreign players from RANS PIK Basketball during the Indonesian Basketball League: Akeem Scott and Akeem Ellis.
Although Yolla only scored two points, she was thrilled. Yolla, who lives in Bandung, was invited by the Local Organizing Committee of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Indonesia to participate in this event.
“I am happy to support the 2023 FIBA World Cup, even if it is a different sport from my own. It is such an honor to hold a world sporting event in Indonesia. I hope Indonesian volleyball can also host the world championships, like the Philippines which has hosted the VNL (Volleyball Nations League) series” said Yolla.
Indonesia will be hosting the 2023 FIBA World Cup from August 25 to September 10, along with Japan and The Philippines. Yolla roots for the Spanish team to win the 2023 FIBA World Cup. “Because most are handsome players,” she laughed.
Indonesia will host Groups G and H, which include the Spanish national team. In volleyball, Yolla plays as an opposite hitter, middle blocker and sometimes as an outside hitter.
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“I was initially the opposite in Jakarta PLN, but then one of the main middle blockers suffered an injury, so I was assigned to be a middle blocker,” she explained.
Yolla, on the other hand, prefers the opposite hitting position. “The opposite side has more spike opportunities, while a middle blocker must move frequently to provoke opponents, but spikes are rare because it also depends on the team’s first reception,” she said. Above all, Yolla is ready to place any position, anytime. (rp)
