Wear the Indonesian jersey with pride
by rick olivares
Wahyu Widayat has had a great
career in basketball in Indonesia. In a 14-year career playing in the Indonesia
Basketball League, Widayat, playing the four and five spots won six titles with
Satria Muda and two to close out his career with M88 Aspac Jakarta. Now calling
the shots for the national team, he knows that in the international arena, like
his team, he’s still lacking in experience.
“Like many of the countries in
Southeast Asia, we’re a football nation,” Widayat underscored. “It’s only in
the last five years where we’ve begun to see some growth in the game in
Indonesia. Now as early as in junior high school, we have competitions. And
there interest is there and that is good for us. But it will take – what –
another 10 years before we develop players who can really compete against the
Philippines which is the benchmark for all of us here.”
The IBL has 11 teams but the
level, noted Widayat, is far from a high-caliber league. Yet. “With the
interest and growing support, who knows where we could go?”
This Seaba Championships, the
Indonesian coach makes no bones about the gargantuan task ahead of them. “Expectations?
Not yet high. The IBL just ended three days ago. So we’re mostly physically and
mentally tired. But that is not an excuse. I want to see the effort from the
players. There should be pride when you wear the Indonesian jersey.”
His young team will be led by
Mario Wuysang, the Indiana, USA-born Indon-American who returned to his native
land in 2013 to help grow the game of basketball. “If Mario can transfer his
knowledge of the game as well as his experience to his teammates that will help
us a lot.”
“Mario might be our best player
but were going to need everyone to contribute if we want to create a miracle.”
Stranger things have happened.
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