Jakarta. The Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) is gearing up for the 2024 All Indonesian Cup, a preseason tournament set to take place at Hall A Basket Senayan, Jakarta, from Sept. 22 to Oct. 6. This tournament, which will feature only local players, will see 14 IBL teams competing.

Adrian Ariez, Head of Marketing & Business Development at IBL, revealed that the tournament will adopt a group-stage format in the first round. The 14 teams have been divided into four groups, with two groups consisting of only three teams each. The winner of each group will advance to the semifinals.

“This serves as a preseason event before the 2025 IBL season. We hope that by participating in the IBL All Indonesian Cup 2024, the players will be well-prepared for the upcoming season,” Ariez said on Friday.

In a notable feature of the tournament, naturalized players will be allowed to participate. This means players like Jamarr Andre Johnson, Anthony Beane, and Brandon Jawato can join the competition. However, each team is permitted to field only one naturalized player.

The group draw for the IBL All Indonesian 2024 took place at FX Sudirman, Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday. The 14 teams were divided into four groups, with two groups containing four teams and the remaining two groups comprising three teams each. Only the group winners will advance to the semifinals, where the knockout stage will begin to determine the champion.

“The aim of this tournament is to showcase local talent, ensuring they are ready for competition, and to sharpen our players,” Ariez emphasized.

IBL President Director Junas Miradiarsyah highlighted the significance of the IBL All Indonesian 2024 in developing Indonesia's basketball ecosystem to become more advanced and competitive. The tournament provides valuable playing time for local players who may not have had many opportunities to play.

“In terms of regulations, naturalized players are categorized as local players, which is allowed as they are officially recognized as Indonesian citizens. This rule isn’t new; it was already in place during the local tournaments in 2022,” he explained.

Additionally, Junas noted that most players are contracted by their clubs for a full year, from January to December. Therefore, this tournament is crucial for filling the long offseason gap, allowing players to remain active and maintain their physical condition.

2024 IBL All Indonesian Group Draw Results:

• Group A: Pasific Caesar Surabaya, Satria Muda, Kesatria Bengawan Solo, Satya Wacana Salatiga
• Group B: Rajawali Medan, Bima Perkasa Jogja, Rans Simba Bogor, Prawira Harum Bandung
• Group C: Dewa United Banten, Amartha Hangtuah Jakarta, Borneo Hornbills
• Group D: Tangerang Hawks Basketball Club, Pelita Jaya Jakarta, Bali United Basketball