TIMNAS Men’s Basketball is ready to fight for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualification with the players showing significant progress during the training camp period since 28 October.
The squad led by Head Coach Johannis Winar is ready to face two important matches against South Korea on November 21 and Thailand on November 24.
Johannis Winar, who is familiarly called Coach Ahang, conveyed positive news about the presence of Anthony Beane, who provided new energy for the team.
“Beane is here. This is good for us. Next, we will introduce the system that we have been training to Beane for the past few days,” said Coach Ahang in a written statement in Jakarta, Saturday.
The role of three senior point guards, namely Widyanta Putra Teja, Yudha Saputera, and Abraham Wenas, will be very crucial in establishing communication with Beane to unify the rhythm of the game. “I ask Widi, Yudha and Wenas to actively communicate with Beane. They have the responsibility to harmonize communication in the field,” he continued.
Among the 18 players called up, several names such as Abraham Wenas, Muhammad Rizky Ari Daffa, Aven Ryan Pratama, Avan Seputra, and Pandu Wiguna appeared as newcomers to the National Basketball Team squad. They trained with national team regulars such as Brandon Jawato, Abraham Damar Grahita, Ali Bagir and Julian Chalias.
Abraham Wenas admitted that he was proud to be able to join the National Team. “First of all, I am definitely happy because I finally got this opportunity. I was nervous because I was out of my comfort zone and came from the Ksatria Bengawan Solo club. In this team, I have never played with them,” said Abraham.
Even though he felt awkward, Abraham continued to communicate with his teammates to speed up adaptation. “Communication with the players is going well even though it’s not very close. I’m focused day by day, because we are competing to be in the main squad,” he added.
Coach Ahang praised the development of the debutants who were quite competitive and enthusiastic during the training camp. “From some of the new players, so far they are quite good. We will see their development further,” he said.
Men’s National Basketball Team Manager Rony Gunawan also welcomed the presence of new faces in the team. According to him, this call-up is a strategic step to enrich the choice of talented players.
“It’s great that there are new faces in the National Team. They deserve to be included in this selection because of their statistics and efforts in the IBL,” said Rony, a former legendary Satria Muda player.
Rony hopes that the new players who join can maintain the playing standards of the National Team and apply them to their respective clubs. “Their progress is good. Some adapt quickly, others may need time, but it’s not a big problem. Hopefully they can maintain the standards of this national team when they return to the club,” he said. (Ant/Z-6)
#Mens #National #Basketball #Team #Asian #Cup #Qualifications
**Interview with Coach Johannis Winar Ahead of 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifications**
**Editor:** Hello, Coach Winar! Thank you for joining us today. The Indonesian Men’s Basketball Team is preparing for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualification. How has the training camp been since it began on October 28?
**Coach Winar:** Thank you for having me. The training camp has been productive. The players have shown significant progress, and we are all excited about what’s to come. Our upcoming matches against South Korea and Thailand are crucial, and the team is ready to put our training into action.
**Editor:** It’s great to hear that. You mentioned that Anthony Beane is providing new energy for the team. Can you elaborate on what he brings to the squad?
**Coach Winar:** Absolutely. Anthony’s presence has been uplifting. He is a skilled player, and we’ve been working to integrate him into our system. His experience will be invaluable, especially in creating synergy with the team. We’re focusing on communication, particularly among our point guards, to ensure everyone is on the same page.
**Editor:** Speaking of point guards, how do you plan to leverage the roles of Widyanta Putra Teja, Yudha Saputera, and Abraham Wenas during the qualifiers?
**Coach Winar:** Those three are critical to our strategy. I’ve tasked them with facilitating communication on the court, especially with Anthony. Their ability to unify our game rhythm will greatly influence our performance. They know what it takes to compete at this level and their leadership will be key.
**Editor:** You also have new faces in the squad, like Aven Ryan Pratama and Muhammad Rizky Ari Daffa. How do you feel about their integration into the team?
**Coach Winar:** Bringing in newcomers always brings fresh energy and perspective. They’ve been training hard with our seasoned players, and I believe this blend of experience and youth will strengthen our team. It’s an exciting time for everyone involved.
**Editor:** can you share any expectations you have for the upcoming matches?
**Coach Winar:** We aim to perform at our best and showcase the hard work we’ve put in during training. Winning is important, but equally crucial is the development of our team dynamics and skills. We want to build a strong foundation for the future of Indonesian basketball.
**Editor:** Thank you, Coach Winar, for your insights. We look forward to seeing how the team performs in the qualifiers.
**Coach Winar:** Thank you for having me. We’re ready to make our mark!