Arki Wisnu: Turning pressure to motivation for crucial Asia Cup campaign

JAKARTA (Indonesia) – Arki Wisnu does not deny that there is pressure on Indonesia entering the FIBA Asia Cup 2022 on home soil.

Aside from wanting to win as many games as they could right before their ever-supportive fans, there’s also one particular goal that Timnas have to accomplish if they are to play in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

They are one of the hosts, yes, of the global competition alongside the Philippines and Japan, but will have to make it to the Quarter-Finals of this Asia Cup to be guaranteed of a spot at the World Cup.

“There’s a sense of pressure playing at home. Of course, we want to win every game for our country,” said the 34-year-old national team regular.

But pressure makes diamonds, as the saying goes. And Timnas are using every bit of that pressure to fuel their campaign here in Jakarta.

“Throughout the years, I feel like Indonesia has always been an underdog,” said Wisnu. “We use that pressure more as motivation to prove other countries, to prove everybody that doesn’t believe that we’re a country to compete against.”

Indonesia membuktikan betapa laparnya mereka dalam debut di FIBA Asia Cup 2022 pada Selasa malam, menaklukkan lawan yang sudah familier dihadapi, Arab Saudi, 80-54.

Indonesia did prove how hungry they are in their Asia Cup debut Tuesday night, blowing by familiar foes Saudi Arabia, 80-54.

“Great comeback game after losing to them,” he said, referring to that narrow 67-69 loss. “We were able to control for the most part most of the games and we just gotta continue to be focused and locked in for the next game.”

A big reason behind the rousing win was Marques Bolden, who was aggressive right from the get-go and ended up with 32 points and 16 rebounds – the Asia Cup debutant missed their previous meeting with Saudi Arabia.

“Bolden is a huge part of our team,” said Wisnu, as Bolden also had six blocks. “He’s one of the things that we lack throughout the years.”

“He really has a major role on our team and he stepped up a lot today. What we were missing in the first game, he showed it and he did. Incredible debut in tonight’s game,” the veteran forward continued.

A big boost as well, definitely, was the raucous crowd that packed Istora Senayan here, who gave out the loudest of cheers the whole game.

Still, it isn’t lost on Wisnu that the battle has just begun, and they are now set to take acid tests next against Jordan and Australia. All that he vowed is that Timnas will go all out, given what’s at stake for them in the meet.

“Yeah, there’s pressure, but we look forward to that pressure and challenge and to play our best to represent our country to our best capabilities,” he said.

FIBA