COVID-19 Cases Skyrocket, IBL Postpones All Matches Today

JAKARTA – All matches in the IBL 2022 second series on the fourth day have been officially postponed. The findings of the latest COVID-19 cases made the organizers fail to hold the four matches that had been scheduled.

IBL as the organizer of the national highest basketball league confirmed the postponement via their official Twitter account on Wednesday, January 2. Thus, a total of eight matches have to be rescheduled.

“ANNOUNCEMENT! All matches today, February 2, 2022, have been decided to be postponed to carry out a retest and Covid-19 mitigation process for all participants," wrote IBL as quoted by VOI.

The four matches officially postponed today are Pacific Caesar Surabaya versus Dewa United, West Bandits Solo versus Evos Thunder Surabaya, Bumi Borneo versus Amartha Hangtuah, and Satria Muda versus Bali United.

After the Indonesia Patriots and Pelita Jaya, the COVID-19 storm has now begun to hit other teams. Other teams whose players have been exposed are Dewa United Surabaya, Bumi Borneo Basketball Pontianak, and Satria Muda Pertamina Jakarta.

On Tuesday, Pelita Jaya Bakrie announced that there were four new cases. Thus, their total number of positive players is six.

Then on Wednesday, February 2, as many as seven players each from Dewa United (2 people), Bumi Borneo (2 people), and Satria Muda (3 people), also tested positive for corona.

The seven infected players are Dio Tirta and Kaleb Ramot Gemilang (Dewa United), Arion Thio and Raymond Shariputra (Bumi Borneo), as well as Antoni Erga, Avan Seputra and Laurentius Steven Oei (Satria Muda).

These findings add to the list of IBL 2022 players infected with the corona virus. Previously, as many as 18 Indonesian Patriots personnel were also confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Until now, the Indonesian Patriots have not played a single match in the second series which took place at C-Tra Arena Bandung, West Java. They also haven't entered the quarantine bubble.

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.