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The Indonesian Basketball League’s new promoter faces a tall task in revamping the country’s top division and halting its downward spiral.

Developmental Basketball League Indonesia took over a league that has had two champions since its inception in 2003, with Satria Muda Britama’s dominance interrupted only by Aspac Jakarta in 2003 and 2005. Those clubs have contested all but two grand finals.

Such predictability has led some fans and commentators to dub the IBL the “Indonesia Boring League.” A steady decline in attendance and lack of sponsorship would seem to lend credence to that notion.

“We want to rescue the IBL,” DBL director Azrul Ananda said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. “The league has been badly managed, but we believe that we can revamp it and rebuild it to be a much better one.”

Last season was one of the IBL’s most challenging. It struggled to attract sponsors after tobacco company PT HM Sampoerna, the league’s main backer since 2003, withdrew its support after the 2008 season, and the league’s average attendance sank to 250, according to the Indonesian Basketball Association.

The 2010-11 season was on the brink of being called off before DBL agreed in January to organize the league.

DBL is a Surabaya-based company that has run a high school basketball league since 2004. The league, which started with 94 teams from schools in East Java, has grown to include more than 200 schools in 16 cities around the country. It has also cooperated with the NBA as part of a youth development program.

Azrul said he hoped DBL could bring about a similar turnaround in the IBL.

“First, we must find a way to resurrect the IBL brand,” he said. “We already have ways to turn this league around, but I can’t tell you how right now. We’ll reveal all the details on May 25 in Jakarta.”

As a start, all 10 IBL clubs from last season signed contracts in April pledging to take part in the league. Satria Muda was the last to sign, completing the deal on Saturday.

The other clubs are Aspac, Bima Sakti Malang, CLS Knights Surabaya, Citra Satria Jakarta, Garuda Flexi Bandung, Muba Hangtuah Indonesia Muda, Pelita Jaya Jakarta, Satya Wacana Angsapura Salatiga and Stadium Jakarta. Azrul said the IBL would be more competitive with that group of teams.

“There are at least four clubs that have a good chance of taking the trophy,” he said. “Garuda Bandung won the Jakarta Governor Cup [in March], and on Sunday Pelita Jaya beat Satria Muda in a tournament in Malang.

“Those are good signs for stiffer competition this season, and that would boost the IBL’s image.”

Azrul and Satria Muda declined to comment on rumors that the defending champion was reluctant to sign because the promoter would forbid IBL clubs from taking part in other leagues. Satria Muda played in the inaugural Asean Basketball League last year and said it would do so again this year.