IBL Ready To Run “Plan C” Without Spectators If The COVID-19 Emergency Situation Gets Worse

Matches in the Indonesian Basketball League (HUMAS IBL)

JAKARTA – The organizers of the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) are ready to continue the competition without spectators if the situation is not possible due to COVID-19. This has been prepared in the backup plan.

The second series of the 2022 IBL season is being disturbed because of the soaring cases of players and team officials infected with the corona virus. However, the highest caste of basketball continued as usual and was still attended by the audience.

IBL President Director Junas Miradiarsyah said that his party had a backup plan to anticipate the current situation. The plan is also ready to be implemented so that this season's competition can be completed according to plan.

“IBL is now allowed spectators. Series 1 (in Jakarta) went well in Bandung as well as health protocols and the flow of the audience. The Plan C could be if, for example, the local government had a special request without an audience, we had to follow it. So whatever government policy we follow," Junas said when contacted by VOI.

IBL 2022 will be held in six series in six different cities. After the Jakarta series, it will continue to Bandung on 29 January-5 February, Yogyakarta on 10-16 February, Solo 3-9 March, Surabaya 13-19 March, and Denpasar 24-30 March.

However, the host cities can change if the city that is believed to be the host enters the COVID-19 emergency status so that the competition cannot be held.

"If for example in a bigger situation, from the central and regional governments, or for example there are cities where there is a situation that is quite worrying so that the regional government does not give permission, our Plan B is playing in a safe city. This means that local government permits,” said Junas.

Currently IBL has played the second series in Bandung. Several matches were postponed in the first two days due to the soaring cases of COVID-19 that infected players and officials.

However, on the third day as many as four matches will run normally on Monday, January 31. Including the Satria Muda Pertamina Jakarta team, which was allowed to compete after on Saturday, January 29, their match was postponed after a case was found.

Today Satria Muda is scheduled to meet Amartha Hangtuah Jakarta. The other three matches are Bali United Basketball versus Bumi Borneo Basketball Pontianak, Evos Thunder Bogor against Pacific Caesar Surabaya, and Dewa United Surabaya with West Bandits Combiphar Solo.