Defeating Vietnam, Women’s Basketball National Team Ends the Curse of the SEA Games Premiere Game

The Indonesian women’s basketball team successfully secured victory in Cambodia’s first SEA Games 2023 match after winning over Vietnam 67-62 at Morodok Techo National Stadium, Elephant Hall 2, Tuesday (9/5/2023). This inaugural victory, apart from opening hopes of winning a medal, also succeeded in avenging the defeat of the Women’s 3X3 National Team which was stopped in the semifinals.

This victory over Vietnam also ended the curse of never winning in the first match at the SEA Games. Since 2011, the women’s national team has had trouble breaking eggs at the start of matches.

“The curse (of not winning) in the first game was broken. This is the first Indonesian women’s basketball victory in games the first SEA Games 1 in the last decade,” explained the person in charge of the women’s national team Christopher Tanuwidjaja.

In the match against Vietnam, the women’s national team faltered early in the game. The inability of table officials to carry out their duties is also a separate problem.

Before halftime, six times the match was suddenly stopped because the timekeeper was wrong. If the total until the game is over, there are eight times the game was stopped.

Games the first can be packed with a score of 15-12. In the second quarter, Henny Sutjiono et al closed games with a score of 31-28. Then in the third quarter Vietnam caught up and reversed the position to 52-53.

Their honed mentality allowed them to turn things around by closing the final quarter 67-62. Kimberley Pierre Louis was the top scorer with 19 points, 9 reboundsand 4 assists.

“Regarding the frequent stops (matches) is annoying. But we focus and chat again trying to stay focused,” said Agustin Gradita Retong after the match.

“We will try to be even better by increasing communication both on the field and outside for the next match,” added the player who was born on August 24, 1995.

Assistant coach for the women’s national team July Wong said that Henny Sutjiono and friends were still not able to bring out their best in the match against Vietnam. Recorded accuracy field goals Indonesia in this match 36% (26/72) compared to 38% (24/62) Vietnam.

“In today’s game we are still not optimal. There are still many mistakes made. In the next game we want to be better by reducing mistakes, playing more calmly and sharpening our shooting percentage,” explained July.