JAYAPURA - The Korpri Papua Basketball Team ensured that they qualified for the round of 16 after defeating the South Kalimantan match with a final score of 39-36, in the preliminary match of pool A of the Pornas XVI Korpri Central Java Basketball branch, at Sahaba Sports Center, Semarang, Sunday (16/7/2023) morning.

This result also brought Papua as the champion of pool A, the 2023 Central Java Pornas Basketball, where in the previous match managed to overthrow South Kalimantan with a final score of 51-23.

Korpri Papua Basketball Team Manager Jimmy Alberto Thesia admitted that he was proud of the performance of his team, even though he had not performed optimally in finishing in front of the opponent's hoop or basket. He also understood because Papua got an equal opponent in this match, so the Papuan team appeared nervous.

"There are so many error balls that have to go under the hoop 99 percent in, but not because the concentration is divided so a lot of balls don't go in. Then there was the referee's adverse decision."

"But overall, I'm happy with the coach being able to manage the strategy, emotions and mentality of the players so that it can keep up with the opponent's game. The MVP is in the coach," he explained.

The victory of the Papuan team was not achieved easily. South Kalimantan, which was strengthened by a number of young players, performed solidly and played tactically to make it difficult for the Papuan team. It can be seen from the score in the first quarter where Papua only narrowly won 16-1 2, then 22-20 in the second quarter.

The South Kalimantan team who appeared insistent finally turned around one point in the third quarter (31-32). However, Ferdinan's performance was able to lift the mentality of Papuan players who despite often missing scores several times, finally managed to end the South Kalimantan resistance with a score of 39-36 for the victory in the fourth quarter.

Papua Basketball team coach Jeheskiel Tetjuari was not surprised by the opponent's solid and difficult performance. He even specifically instructed two players to mark one of the South Kalimantan players.

"The opponent really found his game in the third quarter so we were overwhelmed even in quarter four to chase points. But thankfully my team was able to carry out the coach's instructions well, slowly we improved the team and in the fourth quarter found our game again," he explained.

Coach Jeheskiel said his team would take a rest to then look ahead to the next match in the round of 16. "We don't know who our opponent is yet but for sure we are ready to play." ***