Bogor Hornbills Force Pelita Jaya to Play the Fifth Game of the 2026 IBL Final
JAKARTA - The Bogor Hornbills basketball club managed to win the fourth game of the final match of the 2026 Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) competition against Pelita Jaya Jakarta, forcing the match to continue to the fifth game.
The duel, which took place at the Hornbills' headquarters at GOR Laga Tangkas, Cibinong, on Friday, June 26, 2026, WIB evening, ended with a score of 85-72 for the hosts. The victory buried Pelita Jaya's dream that came with the ambition to celebrate the title at the opponent's home.
Stephaun Branch was the most brilliant performer in this match to lead his team to victory. The 30-year-old player from the United States managed to score 37 points (22 in the first half and 15 in the second half).
"With this situation [we are 1-2 behind] we can't just play normally because if we lose tonight then this series is over," he said after the match, quoted from the official IBL website.
Branch really became a nightmare for Pelita Jaya. He was recorded as successful in putting 14 shots from 19 attempts, including five three-pointers. In addition, he also added four assists, two rebounds, and one steal.
Travin Thibodeaux contributed 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks. Thibodeaux and Kaleb Wesson shoulder-to-shoulder to keep Pelita Jaya players away from the paint area.
Meanwhile, Pelita Jaya got 17 points from Perrin Buford. He also completed it with 10 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Buford was not given free space by the Hornbills' defense so he could only put in five shots from 14 attempts.
Agassi Yeshe Goantara for the second time in the final series this time scored double digit points, namely 16 points. Meanwhile, Jeffree Withey contributed 10 points.
Pelita Jaya seemed to lose control of the game in the second quarter so that the home team could take a 28-19 lead. Five three points Hornbills in this period further put a heavy mental pressure on Pelita Jaya's children.
The difficulties experienced by Pelita Jaya continued in the third quarter. In that period they only put in three shots from 16 attempts (18.7 percent).
"It's nice to win the match and we'll come back with a better performance in the fifth game," said Branch.
The two teams are now tied 2-2 from the match system which took place in a best-of-five format. Thus, they must play the fifth game as a decisive match to lock in the title.
Both teams lost one game out of two played at their respective home grounds. Pelita Jaya won the first game of the final at home and then lost the second game.
The opposite situation occurred at the Hornbills' headquarters for the third and fourth games. The hosts suffered a defeat in the third game so that a little mistake made their hopes evaporate immediately, but that didn't happen.
The fifth game, which is the title of the highest basketball league in Indonesia, will take place at Pelita Jaya's headquarters at GOR Soemantri Brodjonegoro, Kuningan, Jakarta, on Sunday, June 28, 2026.