BENGALURU (India) - There are a number of players here in Bengaluru at the FIBA U18 Women’s Asian Championship 2022 that played in the recent U16 Women’s Asian Championship in Jordan.

Angelica Jennifer Candra is one of them, playing for Indonesia in Division B, and was a stellar presence for the team in the paint. The 1.80M (5'11") center averaged 8.5 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game at the U16 tourney, highlighted by a 16-point, 13-rebound game against the Philippines.

“Basketball in Indonesia is growing up so well and I also hope women's basketball in Indonesia will become better and better."

However, unlike the other young women here at the U18 level, Candra also stands out for having also represented her country at the senior national team level as well.

Candra was also in Jordan with the Indonesia national team back in 2021 when the team competed at the Women’s Asia Cup Division B. Then only 16 years old, Candra played only a few minutes over 3 games, but the experience will always be valuable for her.

Just like any time she gets the chance to play for the national team.

"National Team experiences at any level are always special," said Candra, who also played at the Southeast Asian Games earlier this year. "Special feelings, special moment."

It is important for players to experience these "special" feelings and moments early on in their careers and a lot of Indonesia’s players will be getting that opportunity here in Bengaluru. Moreover, Indonesia are also in a good position to have continuity in building their foundation for the future.

The team set to play in this U18 Women’s Asian Championship has the youngest age on average at 16 years old among all Division A team with two players born in 2007 and two more players born in 2006. Including Candra, there are 7 players returning from the U16 squad.

If these players continue to develop and improve together, Indonesia could have a steady core to build off on heading into their future. Consistent development is key towards success as Candra can confirm, being a part of the national team program and taking up the sport at a young age.

"My parents have a basketball academy in my hometown, Mataram Basketball Academy, in Yogyakarta. They influenced me to play basketball since I was 9 and then I started to play with the amateur team Spartan Jogja since I was 12," said Candra, who is a big fan of Kevin Durant.

However, playing for Indonesia this time around might be a bit different for Candra.

As opposed to her previous tournaments where the team played in Division B, Candra and Indonesia will be competing in Division A of the U18 Women’s Asian Championship.

Just in the Group Phase alone, where Indonesia are in Group B, they will be facing both the defending five-time champions China and the five-time consecutive U18 Women’s Asian Championship Finalists Japan. Chinese Taipei won’t be that much easier to an opponent to play against either.

If Indonesia can finish among the top 3 teams in the group, they might then possibly face Australia, New Zealand, Korea, or India who are in Group A.

And this high level of competition is exactly what Indonesia and Candra, personally, needs - and wants - in order to improve.

"Basketball in Indonesia is growing up so well and I also hope women's basketball in Indonesia will become better and better," said Candra, who also expressed her interest in the idea of a Southeast Asian women’s basketball league.

"It would be a really big step to make women basketball in this region alive again."

FIBA