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Basketball: Indonesia's New-Look Warriors Poised for Resurgence
Wimbo Satwiko | January 13, 2012

The Indonesia Warriors practicing in Kemang, South Jakarta, on Friday. The new ABL season begins on Sunday. JG Photo/Yudhi Sukma Wijaya The Indonesia Warriors practicing in Kemang, South Jakarta, on Friday. The new ABL season begins on Sunday. JG Photo/Yudhi Sukma Wijaya
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After struggling through a season well below their high standards, the Indonesia Warriors have pledged to return as contenders in the new season of the Asean Basketball League.

The Warriors, known as Satria Muda Britama in their Indonesian Basketball League incarnation, begin their third ABL campaign on Sunday when they travel across the strait to face the Singapore Slingers.

Preparations for the season included hiring Todd Purves as the head coach and recalling center Rony Gunawan and guard Amin Prihantono to join point guard Mario Wuysang in the squad.

Ex-Philippines Patriot Steve Thomas and Larry Smith, formerly of the NBA Developmental League, join the Warriors as import players. Ricky Ricafuente, who played in the last two games for Satria Muda last season, is still on the roster, and he is joined by Harold Santa Cruz and Jerick Uy Canada in the three-man Asean import lineup.

As part of their run-up, the Warriors played in the To Be Number One Basketball Challenge in Bangkok last month. The event gave Purves a chance to evaluate his squad in a competitive setting.

“After going to Thailand and seeing the game live, I realized that we needed players with little bit more strength and athleticism, guys who play with force and physicality,” he said.

Standing more than 2 meters tall and weighing 107 kilograms, Thomas should be able to provide just that. He also brings previous ABL experience to go with his paint presence.

Purves also praised Smith as an elite-level athlete. The import previously played with the NBDL’s Fayetteville Patriots.

“They’re two great guys. They made it so much easier to blend in. They’re not selfish. I see so often American imports playing overseas have a more selfish type of game. They’re selfish with the ball, taking so many shots and sometimes they carry it off the court as well, and that makes it more difficult to create the chemistry,” he said.

“That’s not the case with the players we have here. They’re good people and good basketball players as well, so that helps the transition.”

Amin shared his coach’s view, saying, “They’re definitely better than our previous signings, and it shows in practice. They have boosted our spirit in practice.”

Indonesia’s lone ABL entry struggled to a 6-9 record last season, missing the playoffs by one game after reaching the finals the season before. However, Mario said the Warriors were poised for a comeback.

“I’m confident with the American players as they’re more experienced than the ones before. These guys are at a different level. Maybe we’re better prepared. But we have a new coach so it’s a new system. It’s a process to learn his system and for him to recognize his players. We’re still trying to gel together as team,” he said.