Arriving In Saudi Arabia, All Indonesian Basketball National Team Players Negative For COVID-19

Indonesian national basketball team (PP PERBASI)

JAKARTA — All players on the Indonesian national basketball team tested negative for COVID-19 after arriving in Saudi Arabia. Apart from players, officials are also in the same condition.

Indonesia departed from Jakarta to Saudi Arabia on February 20. They are scheduled to play two matches in the second window of the FIBA World Cup 2023 Group C Asian Zone qualification while in the Middle East.

Once there, the team immediately underwent a PCR test to confirm the condition of the players and team officials.

"Thank God the PCR results for all players and officials were negative", said team advisor Andi Poedjakesuma in a statement received by VOI.

The national basketball parent (PP Perbasi) through the National Team Agency sent 14 players for the two qualifying matches that will be faced by the Rajko Toroman squad.

The players who brought in were Abraham Grahita, Agassi Goantara, Aldy Izzatur, Ali Bagir, Andakara Prastawa, Brandon Jawato, Juan Laurent Kokodiputra, Kaleb Ramot Gemilang, Kevin Yonas Sitorus. Then there were Lester Prosper, Muhammad Arighi, Vincent Kosasih, Widyanta Putra Teja, and Yudha Saputera.

Andi said that apart from being negative for COVID-19, the players were also in good health. They are also not bothered by the weather in Arabia which is at 18 degrees Celsius.

"Weather doesn't really affect the team. We immediately practice as soon as the test results are negative. We are also in a bubble, so we just practice on the hotel field", he said.

The Indonesian basketball national team is scheduled to meet Saudi Arabia on February 24, 2022. They will challenge the host at King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah.

Three days later Kaleb Ramot Gemilang and his friends will play the second match against Jordan at Prince Hamza, Amman.