RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir, praised the growing quality of the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL), saying the competition has become increasingly competitive and is capable of producing new champions. In the 2026 season, Bogor Hornbills made history by winning their first-ever IBL title after defeating Pelita Jaya Jakarta 3-2 in the championship series.

Erick said Bogor Hornbills' success demonstrates that Indonesia's national basketball competition is no longer dominated by long-established clubs, but instead offers every team an equal opportunity to grow and achieve success.

"Congratulations to Bogor Hornbills for making history as the 2026 IBL champions. This achievement proves that the quality of Indonesia's basketball competition continues to improve. Every club has the same opportunity to develop, improve, and become champions through hard work, proper development, and professional management," Erick said in a statement issued in Jakarta on Monday, June 29, 2026.

According to him, the IBL has shown healthy competition over the past five seasons, with new champions emerging regularly. He said this reflects the improving quality of club-level development and the increasingly competitive nature of the league. He added that this progress is inseparable from the commitment of the Indonesian Basketball Association (PP Perbasi), under the leadership of chairman Budisatrio Djiwandono, to maintaining a strong basketball ecosystem in the country.

"Healthy competition is the foundation for producing quality athletes. When every game is competitive and every club can challenge one another, players will continue to improve. This is the ecosystem needed to develop Indonesia's best basketball players," he said.

Erick added that the quality of the national league is closely linked to the strength of the national team. The stronger the domestic competition, the greater Indonesia's chances of fielding a national team capable of competing on the international stage. "We want the IBL to continue developing into a more professional and competitive league. A high-quality league will help maintain the strength of Indonesia's men's national basketball team and enable it to remain competitive at the Asian level. International success is not achieved overnight but is built on a strong and sustainable national competition," he said.

He also recalled Indonesia's historic achievements in basketball, including the men's national team's gold medal at the 2021 SEA Games and the women's national team's gold medal at the 2023 SEA Games.

Erick also said those accomplishments demonstrate Indonesia's tremendous basketball potential, which must be sustained through structured athlete development, higher-quality competitions, and stronger collaboration among all stakeholders.

The minister affirmed that the Ministry of Youth and Sports will continue supporting the development of Indonesia's sports ecosystem, including strengthening professional competitions, as part of its broader strategy to enhance the country's competitiveness at both the Asian and global levels. "Congratulations to everyone involved in Indonesian basketball for the successful completion of this IBL season. Let Bogor Hornbills' achievement serve as an inspiration that, through proper development, hard work, and healthy competition, every club has the opportunity to make history. May this success become new momentum for the continued growth of Indonesian basketball," Erick said.