The tournament, which is scheduled to be held from September 22 to October 6 at Hall A Basket Senayan in Jakarta, aims to provide more playing time to local players.
"From an ecosystem perspective, the tournament is also valuable in preventing excessive gaps between seasons," Junas said on Thursday.
He noted that most players are contracted by clubs for a full year, from January to December, making the tournament beneficial for both teams and players.
The tournament will not only feature foreign or heritage players but also local naturalized players.
However, each team will have just one naturalized player.
"While naturalized players, as defined by regulations, are considered local and eligible to participate, this rule has been in place since the 2022 local tournament," Junas explained.
The IBL management has also communicated with the Indonesian Basketball Association (PP Perbasi) regarding the tournament.
The tournament is expected to have a positive impact on the development of local players and teams and the overall popularity of basketball in Indonesia.
Basketball has been gaining popularity in Indonesia in recent years, while football remains the most popular sport in the country.
IBL, the top-tier professional basketball league in Indonesia, has also attracted talented players, both domestic and international.
Indonesia co-hosted the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup with the Philippines and Japan despite its national team failing to qualify after finishing outside the top eight at the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup. Related news: Jakarta to get FIBA office this year: Sports Minister
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Translator: Donny Aditra, Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editor: Anton Santoso
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