IBL 2021 Postponed To March

JAKARTA - The management of the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) decided to postpone the 2021 season competition following government regulations regarding restrictions on community activities in the Java-Bali region.

According to the President Director of IBL Junas Miradiarsyah, the IBL, which is planned to start on January 15, will most likely be shifted to March.

“The IBL scenario will be held on January 15 to February 7, 2021. That's the first phase. The second phase will be on March 2-22, ”said Junas in a virtual press conference reported by Antara, Saturday, January 9.

"With a situation like this, hopefully the timeline we have prepared will improve. So we put the first phase in the second phase. Estimation in March can be held, "he added.

The IBL had previously received a recommendation to roll out the league in January. The prepared health protocol has also been evaluated many times by both the local government and the health department before being finally approved.

As a form of seriousness, in August 2020, IBL has even held a simulation of implementing health protocols as part of preparation for the 2021 season competition amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unfortunately, on its way IBL once again had to bump into government permits and regulations related to activity restrictions in order to reduce the rate of transmission of COVID-19 which is still high in Indonesia.

"We have repeatedly confirmed what we have been working on regarding the protocol and bubble system. We make sure to that to the parties and at that time, thank God it can continue. But this time it hasn't produced the results as expected, so we must obey, "said Junas.

If possible, it will be held in March, Junas stated that the competition will still use the bubble system. The venue for the event is still as planned, namely at the Mahaka Square Arena Jakarta.