25 August, 2023
10 September

History of Indonesia Basketball

Top 3 moments in Indonesian basketball

  • 1. 3x3 World Tour Champion Tokyo, Japan 2013

    Indonesia, represented by the Yoska Jakarta team, won the Tokyo Masters, the opening series of the 2013 FIBA 3x3 World Tour. This was a proud achievement because, in the inaugural season of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour in 2012, Indonesia's representative only ranked 12th at the 2012 Vladivostok Masters.

    2. SEA Games 2021 Gold Medal

    For the first time in history, the Indonesian men's basketball team won a gold medal at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, which was held in 2022 in Vietnam. The success of winning this gold was achieved by defeating the Philippines, 85-81, in the last game. This victory put Indonesia on top of the final standings in the competition which was competed in a round-robin system. Indonesia's best achievement prior to that was four silver medals and three bronze medals.

    3. Awarded as co-host of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

    For the first time in history, Indonesia will host the prestigious FIBA Basketball World Cup with Japan and the Philippines. The Indonesia Arena, an indoor stadium with capacity more than 16,000, was constructed for the occasion of this event.

  • Sonny Hendrawan

    Sonny Hendrawan is an Indonesian basketball star of the 1960s-1970s era. He was born in Semarang on June 21, 1943. Sonny once led Indonesia to fourth place in the ABC Championship 1967 in Seoul, Korea. Sonny was named the best forward. Indonesia then qualified for the pre-Olympic tournament and had defeated Australia, but failed to participate in the 1978 Mexico Olympics.

    With him, the Indonesian men’s basketball team also placed second at the Games of the New Emerging Forces (GANEFO) I in 1963 and Ganefo II 1966, both losing to China in the final.

    When he played for Indonesia at the ABC Championship in Manila in 1973, a Philippines media outlet profiled him under the title "The Slick Shot from Semarang". The Indonesia Basketball League (IBL) MVP trophy is named after him.

    I Made Sudiadnyana

    Better known as Lolik, Sudiadnyana was born in Singaraja, Bali, on November 16, 1970. The small forward was famous for his consistency, dedication, and influence off the court. Lolik never won a championship, but collected eight regular season MVP titles and one MVP All Stars in the Indonesian professional basketball competition throughout his career that started in 1992. The last MVP title he won was in 2011 at the age of 40, also the last year of his professional career.

    Lolik was part of the historic men's basketball team that won a silver medal at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games for the first time (2001). He was on the Indonesian squad that won the silver medal again in 2007.

    Lolik's biggest legacy for Indonesian basketball is being an example that a basketball player can still play at a high level to the age of 40 as long as they can maintain a good shape. Ten years since Lolik retired, three players have followed his footsteps to still play in the IBL until the age of 40.

    Arki Dikania Wisnu

    Arki is an Indonesian player who has the most complete collection of titles. He can play in four different positions from point guard to forward. Born in New York, USA, on March 15, 1988, Arki the won the Rookie of the Year title when he returned to Indonesia and made his debut in Indonesia Basketball League (IBL) competition with Satria Muda (2012).

    In the course of his career, he won five professional basketball competitions titles in Indonesia, was once named MVP of the regular season, and twice the Finals MVP.

    Arki has won the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games silver medal twice and was part of the historic Indonesian basketball national team squad that won gold at SEA Games 2021.