Hope The Women's Basketball League Rolls Again

Women's basketball athlete Maxine Maria Sutisna. (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - The women's basketball league competition is currently on hiatus. Perbasi has tried to roll it back but failed due to the lack of enthusiasm of participants.

Two young athletes Maxine Maria Sutisna and Praisey Blessed expressed their hope that the women's basketball competition could resume in Indonesia after failing to be realized in recent years.Maxine, who is the 2023 DBL Camp MVP, stated that she did not want her basketball career to stop just up to college. "I want there to be an event for all of us to have further ideals in Indonesia, to have a forum to show people that we have the ability, we have talent, and in Indonesia playing women's basketball is not just checking," said the 70 Jakarta high school student, as quoted from Antara.

When referring to basketball competition in its home country, the United States, WNBA is clearly still lost by the NBA. Even so, Maxine believes that women's basketball in Indonesia can bring a no less pleasant atmosphere than men's basketball. "The important thing is that Indonesia advances first. Maybe even though in America women are still considered low (basket), in Indonesia the important thing is to appreciate first. Women's basketball is there," said Maxine.

The Asa is also owned by Praisey who knows basketball from his mother who is a former national athlete, Liana Sihombing.

"Mamaku also hopes that there will be (competition). Because I am sad to see my senior brothers and sisters... because my coach also used to hold the Srikandi (Cup) team. I saw they were really good," said the 15-year-old girl. Moreover, Praisey also has her own ambition, namely proving her choice to pursue basketball from an early age is not in vain at all. "I want to show my papa that I actually can. I spent my life not in vain. I want to have something that people can appreciate," concluded Praisey.

Complaints about the absence of the women's basketball competition were voiced by the captain of the women's national team Henny Sutjiono after the team he led won the 2023 SEA Games gold medal.

The desire for the women's basketball competition to be rolled out was also raised by the Minister of Youth and Sports Dito Ariotedjo to Perbasi. Perbasi then said that his party had spread invitations for the women's basketball league. However, until the end of the registration period, only one club registered.