Hanoi, The Indonesia Post – The Indonesian men’s basketball team managed to make history by winning the 2021 Vietnam SEA Games after picking six wins from a total of seven participants in the round robin system.
In the deciding match, Indonesia faced the Philippines, who both had five wins at the Thanh Try Gymnasium, Hanoi, Sunday, which they won with a score of 85-81.
The Philippines, which became the champion of basketball for the first time since 1977 and until the 2019 organizers only had time to release the title to Malaysia in 1979 and 1989, finally had to recognize Indonesia’s superiority as the new champion of basketball in the Southeast Asian region.
Indonesia has not won a gold medal in men’s basketball at the SEA Games since participating in 1977 and has always had to settle for silver behind the Philippines, which has a reputation as the king of Southeast Asian basketball and has even appeared in the FIBA World Cup on several occasions.
At the 2019 SEA Games, Indonesia even had to go home empty-handed after being defeated by Vietnam in the fight for the bronze medal, a result that was freefall compared to silver in the 2017 SEA Games Kuala Lumpur.
Now, the team, which is strengthened by three naturalized players, Diagne Dame, Terrell Bolden Marques, Jawato Brandon, appears to be superior by always winning in every half (10 minutes).
Indonesia has actually ensured at least a silver medal at the 2021 SEA Games thanks to five wins in the five matches that have been played. Andakara Prastawa et al. currently occupy the second position, but are far behind in scoring compared to the Philippines, who are at the top, even though both teams are both on 10 points.
Overall, the Indonesian men’s basketball team has 12 players, namely Juan Laurent, Michael Xzavierro Derrick, Lakudu Hardianus, Jawato Brandon, Darmar Grahita Abraham (C), Prastawa Dhyaksa Andakara, Saputera Yudha, Rivaldi Rosasih Vincent, Terrel Bolden Marques, Yeshe Goantara. Agassi, Diagne Dame, Dikania Vishnu Arki
Since the first round, the Indonesian basketball players immediately appeared to press by trying to tear down the opponent’s fortifications. Likewise the opponent, who also applies the same strategy. However, Indonesia’s dominance on the defense side made the first half game for 10 minutes win with a score of 18-14.
Entering the second half, Indonesia’s game is getting uphill. Several times the three-pointer glided smoothly into the basket. The score ended 36-32.
Left behind by four points, the Philippines tried to catch up in the third round. However, the effort was not easy for Reyes Vincent’s squad. Indonesia’s defense fortress became more solid because it was driven by Derrick and Bolden who performed optimally in the top match.
A three-point shot from Bolden at the end of the third round brought the team to a 63-60 lead which was immediately greeted by cheers from Indonesian supporters.
Armed with these advantages, the Indonesian team is increasingly confident of advancing in the deciding round.
With 4 minutes remaining, Indonesia was able to leave the opponent eight points to 78-70, but the Philippines’ Fajardo Sotto Junemar was able to reduce it after his two-point shot from the left side resulted in a point. The score changed 78-74.
With 1:18 seconds remaining, Indonesia’s mainstay Derrick had to leave the field because he had made five mistakes. The disappointed look on his face could not be covered by this Indonesian-Cameroonian descent player.
At the end of the round with 40 seconds remaining, Indonesia was already ahead 81-76. The victory was further refined to 85-81 after Lakudu Hardianus’s three-point shot resulted in a point.
Indonesia national team coach Milos Pejic said the players performed their best throughout the match.
“Mentally the players are very ready, trust each other and play as a team,” he said.
Milos also praised Derrick Michael’s performance which he considered impressive. Derrick, who appeared as a debutant with the national team, is said to have given positive energy to the team. Derrick Michael Xzavierro also admitted that he appeared more confident with the Indonesian basketball national team when he debuted at the SEA Games.
Derrick said that confidence was the key to the success of scoring a double-double in his second match with the national team. The Indonesian-Cameroonian basketball player previously played with the national team in the 2021 FIBA Asian Cup Qualification at Mahaka Arena, Jakarta when he was 16 years old.
Meanwhile, Juan Laurent, who was interviewed after the game, said that he never expected to make a new history in Indonesian basketball.
He who also strengthened the national team at the 2019 Philippine SEA Games said the team he was strengthening this time was much stronger because of the intake of naturalized players.
“From a defense perspective, we are much stronger than the last SEA Games. In addition, our team’s weaknesses have been covered up because there are already many tall players. We also play as a team,” he said.
Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi) Nirmala Dewi said that this success could not be separated from the different strategies the organization used to achieve basketball achievements in the international arena.
He did not deny that naturalizing a number of basketball players made the Indonesian team much stronger than before.
“First, our target is to find players with big bodies who want to be naturalized. Then, the second is by optimizing Indonesian players,” he said.
In addition, PP Perbasi has also recruited foreign coaches and has been running training camps since March 2022.
“Actually, TC has started since Indonesia was set to host the FIBA Asia World Cup, two years ago. But there are places where they return to their respective clubs to join the IBL,” he said. (mhn/bbs)
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