IBL Rolling Out January 15, 2021 With New Format

IBL (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) competition for the 2021 season is planned to roll on January 15 next year using a new format.

Director of IBL Junas Miradiarsyah said that organizing the competition next season will still consider the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, one of which is by implementing a bubble system and without involving the audience.

"The pandemic condition is still uncertain next year, but competition must continue with very strict health protocol guidelines," Junas said in a press release received by Antara, Tuesday, November 19.

In connection with the busy schedule of sports activities in 2021, the organizers also took several steps to modify the format and techniques so that the series schedule and IBL matches do not clash with other agendas next year, especially the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualification.

Some of the modifications that are planned to be implemented include the series schedule which generally consists of eight will be compressed into four series for the effectiveness of the quarantine system which will be divided into two phases. Meanwhile, each series which normally runs for three days has now been extended to six days.

Phase one will later include the series 1, 2, and 3 series, while phase two is for the series 4 series, the Playoff to the Final which is expected to end at the end of March or before entering Ramadan.

Junas said the schedule and the adjustments had been socialized to the participating clubs for IBL 2021. The organizers will again announce the adjustment of other technical mechanisms in stages.

"We have socialized the schedule to participating clubs in a virtual manager's meeting this morning," said Junas.

The IBL participating clubs are currently busy with signing players in the transfer window which is scheduled to end on 24 December.

"Currently, the transfer window is busy. Clubs are aggressively looking for players according to their respective needs, "he said.

Several star players who had been absent from the IBL competition are reported to be making comeback, such as Rachmad Febri Utomo, who will defend Bank BPD DIY Bima Perkasa Jogja.