KBRN, Tangerang: Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir officially opened the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) 2026. The opening marked the start of the top national basketball competition for the 2026 season.

The Minister praised the IBL as a catalyst for the Indonesian sports industry. He assessed that the league's economic impact is widely felt across various sectors.

"I appreciate the IBL, which has increasingly demonstrated its status not only as the top basketball competition in the country, but also as a driving force for the sports industry," he said at the opening of the 2026 IBL season at Dewa United Arena, Tangerang, Banten, on Saturday, January 10, 2026.

Erick expressed belief that the IBL plays a crucial role in driving the national sports industry sustainably. The league combines competition, entertainment, business, technology, and community empowerment.

"The IBL is indeed a pioneer in integrating sports with entertainment and business. Its economic impact is significant and felt by various sectors, from the creative industry to MSMEs," said the owner of Oxford United.

The IBL also creates jobs for athletes, coaches, officials, supporters, and related sectors such as event organizers, media, the creative industry, and MSMEs.

The home-away system boosts local economies in various host cities. Transportation, hospitality, culinary, and tourism are also positively impacted.

"The spectators' enthusiasm is extraordinary. Even those who don't go to the stadium are willing to subscribe to watch matches on digital platforms," said Erick.

Previously, IBL President Director Junas Miradiarsyah said that the 2026 IBL season is a crucial moment for the league, especially for building stronger connections with fans.

"The closeness between the league and the community is the main thing we want to build this season. Our goal is to create a league that's accessible and enjoyable, both in the arena and across various platforms," explained Junas.

Following the league opening ceremony, the match continued with Dewa United's match against Pelita Jaya, which ended with Pelita Jaya's victory 98-82. Three other matches had previously taken place, starting with the Tangerang Hawks defeating Satya Wacana Salatiga 85-59.

Then, the Bogor Hornbills narrowly defeated Hangtuah Jakarta. And RANS Simba Bogor defeated Kesatria Bengawan Solo 101-63. (Misni Parjiati/Bambang MBKA)