Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

The euphoria of the Faculty of Economics and Business Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM) men's and women's basketball teams' victories at PORSENIGAMA 2024 is still palpable. Winning both championships is undoubtedly a proud achievement for the FEB UGM basketball team. This success results from various parties' hard work, dedication, and cooperation. It's not just about individual accomplishments but also the collective spirit of the entire team, the coaches, and the strong support of the campus community.

Keys to victory

The men's basketball team, which secured the championship with contributions from all players, demonstrated that teamwork is the key to success. Team captain Nathanael Alexander Rae Alvis, who was also selected as Most Valuable Player (MVP), emphasized that this achievement resulted from consistent practice and support from his teammates. "I am very proud because last year we could only bring FEB to second place and praise God, this year we won the gold medal. I'm also happy that many people came and supported us," he said with gratitude.

Regarding his MVP title, Nathanael, a management student batch of 2023, explained that his current performance resulted from a long process that began in middle school. "The key to my performance comes from practicing every day. It's been exhausting to achieve all of this, but it's all paid off with these results," he explained.

A similar story can be found in the women's basketball team. To defend the championship title they had previously won, the team showed consistency in preparation and solidarity among the players. Najla Widona Bima, the captain of the FEB UGM women's basketball team, expressed her happiness. "We are very happy. From the beginning, our goal was to defend the championship, but we didn't expect to win both titles," said the accounting student batch 2023.

Najla also shared the team's journey in defending their title. Despite facing challenges such as balancing academic and organizational commitments, Najla emphasized the importance of dedication and prioritization in achieving victory. The team trained consistently, including physical training and sparring sessions, to build chemistry and mental toughness among the players, which was critical to their success on the court.

Najla also emphasized the importance of the coach's and campus support's vital role in achieving this success. The coach's encouragement to stay confident and the faculty's facilities were essential to her current accomplishments.

Valuable Lessons

Felia Az Zahra (Accounting 2021), one of the women's basketball players at FEB UGM, expressed her pride in performing at the highest level during her senior year. She mentioned that she learned many valuable lessons from extracurricular activities, such as basketball, that supported her academic success. "Basketball taught me discipline, teamwork, and strategic thinking, all of which are useful in my studies," she said.

In addition, basketball taught her time management and how to prioritize tasks. She learned to balance practice, games, and academics without sacrificing them. "Playing basketball can be a way to refresh the mind, which helps improve concentration in studying," she added.

Virginia Stella Monica Tanuraharjo (Management-IUP 2021), the FEB Basketball Community 2024 vice president, also shared her memorable experience with the team. Although she plans to start a business after graduation, Virginia still sees sports as a healthy extracurricular activity. For her, non-academic activities like basketball help reduce stress and balance her academic life. "Prioritizing and choosing activities that align with your goals is important. Also, be aware of your capacity - don't take on too many activities to balance academics and extracurriculars. It would help if you were prepared physically, mentally, and with your time," she explained.

Dreams Come True

The FEB UGM basketball team's journey to victory in PORSENIGAMA 2024 was challenging. President of the FEB UGM Basketball Community, Mahdy Baihaqi (Accounting 2021), recalled the difficult early stages of their journey. "It all started two years ago, in 2022, when we took the first step with many limitations. We continued to train despite limited facilities and equipment, hoping that the FEB UGM team could shine in major competitions," he said.

A turning point came in 2023 when the team improved its performance by hiring a professional coach and adopting a more structured training program. Their efforts paid off when the women's team won the gold medal at PORSENIGAMA 2023, while the men's team finished second.

In preparation for 2024, they began strategizing to win two gold medals for both teams. Two months before PORSENIGAMA, they trained up to three or four times a week. Each session was designed to improve endurance, technique, and strategic skills. With more structured training, the team became more solid and ready to face challenges.

"With thorough preparation, we took the field full of confidence. When the final whistle blew, we knew our dream had come true - we had won the gold medals for both teams," Mahdy said proudly.

For Mahdy, this victory is not only about the medals but also a testament to the hard work, dedication, and support they have built together over time. Following this success, the FEB UGM Basketball Community plans to continue strengthening the team and maintaining its achievements. The team also aims to participate in other competitions at the university level and beyond to develop the players' skills further and prepare them for more significant challenges.

Reportage: Shofi Hawa Anjani
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum

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