Additional Cases, 7 Players From 3 IBL Participating Teams Positive For COVID-19

JAKARTA — The cases of positive players for COVID-19 at the IBL 2022 event continue to increase. Recently, there were a total of seven more players from three different clubs who tested positive for the corona virus.

In the IBL statement obtained on Wednesday, February 2, the three clubs whose players were infected were Bumi Borneo Basketball Pontianak, and Satria Muda Pertamina. That is based on the results of the PCR test conducted on Tuesday, February 1 yesterday.

The players who were exposed were Dio Tirta and Kaleb Ramot Gemilang (Dewa United), Arion Thio and Raymond Shariputra (Bumi Borneo) and Antoni Erga, Avan Seputra, and Laurentius Steven Oei (Satria Muda).

"We have to do all of this in accordance with the health protocol guidelines and mitigation procedures that have been set by the IBL," said dr. Panudju from Royal Sports Medicine Hospital, IBL partner.

The three teams whose players tested positive should have scheduled matches today.

Dewa United is recorded to meet Pacific Caesar Surabaya, Bumi Borneo Basketball Pontianak against Amartha Hangtuah Jakarta, while Satria Muda Pertamina Jakarta is scheduled to meet Bali United Basketball.

The surge in cases of infected players has disrupted the course of this season's competition, which is entering its second series. As of February 1, a total of four IBL matches have been postponed due to COVID-19.

The latest match that was forced to be postponed was the match between Pelita Jaya and the Indonesia Patriots. The meeting was supposed to be held on Tuesday, February 1.

However, the organizers were forced to postpone it because as many as four Pelita Jaya players were confirmed positive. So far there is no new schedule for these matches.

The second series of IBL this season has been going on since January 29 and will end on February 5 next. After the second series in Bandung, the highest caste of national basketball will continue the next series to Jogjakarta.