Indonesia sends 3x3 team to Taiwan Challenger ahead of Asian Games

Indonesia is sending a young 3x3 basketball team to Taiwan, where it will face more experienced opponents at the FIBA 3x3 Kaohsiung Challenger on September 5-6. The tournament forms part of the country’s preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

Four of the eight players involved in Indonesia’s final Asian Games preparations will make the trip: Almando Davin Nepa Bait, Halmaheranno Aprianto Lolaru Hady, Erick Ibrahim Junior and Daffa Dhoifullah. They will compete as Team Balige.

Balige will begin in Group B against Shibuya from Japan and Phoenix from the United States. All four Indonesian players are under 23, matching the Asian Games age limit, but their opponents include older players. Shibuya features two Japanese players and Latvian veterans Kristaps Gluditis and Zigmars Raimo, while Phoenix includes players aged 29 and 30.

Derry Primasta Octa, the Indonesian men’s 3x3 general manager, said understanding the strategies taught during the national training camp mattered more than the immediate result. The tournament will also help build the players’ competitive mentality, add experience and test their training-camp plans. Aymane Arip and Richard Kornelius will join the squad in Taiwan for trial matches on September 7-8. The team is scheduled to leave for Kaohsiung on September 4, then return to Jakarta. At the Asian Games, Indonesia will play in Group C with Qatar, Taiwan and Bahrain.

“

In the process of forming the team, understanding how the players carry out the game strategy given during the national training camp is much more important, so that we can achieve the best possible result at the Asian Games.