Cool, Women's 3x3 Basketball Team Participates In Tokyo Olympics Qualification

Dewa Ayu Made Sriartha Kusuma Dewi underwent a PCR test (Doc. PERBASI)

JAKARTA - History carved PP PERBASI. For the first time in history, they were involved in the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2021. It will be in Graz, Austria, on May 24-30.

"This is a precious moment for Perbasi as well as indonesian basketball lovers. For the first time in history, Indonesia took part in the Olympic qualifiers for the FIBA 3x3. We will prepare the team as best we can in order to perform to the maximum in Austria later," explained Pp Perbasi Secretary General Nirmala Dewi in an official statement received by VOI.

In this event, Indonesia was in pool A with France, the United States, Germany, and Uruguay. The players and officials who are believed to carry the name of Indonesia have gathered at GOR Cahaya Lestari Surabaya since Sunday, April 4. Carrying out health protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, they underwent a PCR Swab Test a day later. This test is conducted in two stages to ensure covid-19-free.

"Pcr test for this first result is all negative. It is currently undergoing a five-day self-quarantine to then undergo a second PCR test. If all comes back negative, then continued with training," said Indonesia Basketball Team Manager 3x3 Christopher Tanuwidjaja.

Christopher explained, in preparation for the pandemic was deliberately called female officials. And only two. Coach July and Sherly Humardhani as team delegates. Then for the players there are Dewa Ayu Made Sriartha, Dah Lestari, Nathania Claresta Oriville, Lea Elvensia Wolobubo Kahol, Henny Sutjiono, and Gabriel Sophia.

According to him, this policy is taken in addition to efficiency also to adjust very limited regulations. Considering, the implementation of qualifications will be placed in one closed place. If the contingent is filled with all women then it will be easier in terms of coordination because they are both women.

"In the roster we do not include naturalized players because it does adjust fiba qualifications for player points scoring in this 3x3. While the existing naturalization players are new," he said.

Not long ago, the women's national team received an injection of naturalized players from Canada. His name is Peyton Alexis Whitted. Christopher said, naturalization players can probably only be part of the national team at the SEA Games Vietnam later. But still have to look at the regulations issued by the host country.

Christopher said that although qualifying for the Olympics is a history for the Indonesian basketball world, there is no excessive euphoria in preparing the team. This is because the opponents faced are quite heavy. The United States, Uruguay, Germany, and France are already world-level.

"In this Olympic qualifier we have no good targets, just looking for experience for the players. The opponent we face is quality above all. So here the team is brought more enjoy when meeting good opponents at the world level," he explained.

Christopher hopes that the experience of the Olympic Qualifiers will be useful when players enter the 2021 SEA Games Vietnam later this year. They are expected to improve on their previous SEA Games record which failed to reach the semi-finals.

"Upon returning from Austria, the players were able to bring home the experience to be applied at the SEA Games Vietnam. Hope to get a medal in Vietnam later," he said.