TheIndonesia.id - Naturalized player Marques Bolden, who plays for the NBA G-League club Salt Lake City Stars, arrived in Jakarta on Monday to join the Indonesian national basketball team in a training camp to prepare for the 2021 Vietnam SEA Games. Not only Bolden, the Central Board of the Indonesian Basketball Association (PP Perbasi) has also brought in other players from abroad, such as Brandon Jawato, who is currently playing in the Japanese league, and Fatih Respatih, who is studying in the United States (US).
"Monday 11 April we have Marques Bolden. Then Derrick Michael is scheduled to come on 27 April. Meanwhile, Fatih Respati and Agassi Goantara arrived two weeks ago. Likewise, Brandon Jawato is with us," said the Manager of the Indonesian Basketball Team, Jeremy Santoso, in an official statement received by PP Perbasi in Jakarta, Monday, April 11, 2022.
Bolden's presence is important because he is expected to boost the national team's performance in the Vietnam SEA Games which will be held on May 12-23, while maintaining the silver medal in the biennial multievent. The player who has a height of 2.08 meters is also expected to help Indonesia penetrate the top eight in the FIBA Asia Cup, July 12-24 in Jakarta.
Not only Bolden, PP Perbasi also deliberately brought Brandon Walker to strengthen the ranks of the Indonesian national team coach. Walker is a strength and conditioning coach from Impact Basketball, United States. Walker is expected to improve physical endurance and hone the individual skills of the players.
"With this addition, it is hoped that the national team can get medals and the best results at the SEA Games," said Santoso.