The members of Indonesian national men’s basketball team, including its captain Arki Dikania Wisnu, were holding their breath as the squad held on to a narrow 83-81 lead with 3 seconds remaining against the defending champions, the Philippines, during the finals of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games men’s basketball tournament in Hanoi’s Thanh Tri Stadium on May 22.

Abraham Grahito sank both free throws with the gold medal on the line, after Philippine big man Jeth Troy Rosario Utanes fouled the Red and Whites’ United States-born center, Marques Bolden. The shots were all Indonesia needed to clinch its first basketball gold in the SEA Games since the sport was added to the multinational event in 1977. 

For Arki, the victory made up for the frustration and heartache of repeatedly falling short of the team’s longtime regional rival, the preeminent Southeast Asian basketball power, which had won gold in 18 of the 21 events in the SEA Games. 

The Philippines also thwarted Indonesia’s bid to win gold in men’s basketball in three out of four finals. Arki was at the losing end of two of those matches, which was painful to Indonesian basketball aficionados, though the sport is not as high-profile as soccer in the country. 

Most of all, the win was a milestone for Arky’s basketball career, a journey that started with a series of small steps. 

Wrongfooting the competition: Arki Dikania Wisnu goes for the basket with Satria Muda Pertamina. (Courtesy of Arki Dikania Wisnu) (Courtesy of Arki Dikania Wisnu/Courtesy of Arki Dikania Wisnu)

An early love of the game 

Born in New York City, the US, to Indonesian parents in 1988, Arki got hooked on basketball from an early age. It was not hard to see why. Michael Jordan dominated the game at the time, and the NBA legend led the Chicago Bulls to six titles in the following decade. 

“I started to play basketball in third grade. There was a basketball hoop in the school yard where I usually played before I went to class,” recalled the 34-year-old.

 “I saw my cousin play pick-up basketball with his friends, so I wanted to participate. I was not good enough to play with him yet, so he had me do drills to improve my skills and motivated me to get better at the game.” 

As a teenager, Arki played for Newtown High School in the New York City borough of Queens. 

“I started off on junior varsity as a freshman, then turned varsity as a sophomore. I became team captain in my junior and senior years,” he said.

Arki nearly reached a triple-double in two high school games, in which he scored at cumulative total of 47 points, 29 rebounds and nine assists.

“After high school I got a scholarship to play basketball at Baruch College [in New York City], which played in the NCAA third division. The lessons I learned in high school proved invaluable for playing at a higher level [in Baruch], among them the importance of adjusting to new coaches and playing styles,” said the psychology major and English minor.

Arki made an immediate impact in the 2006 to 2007 season, as Baruch granted him the men’s basketball Rookie of the Year award. 

Arki reached another milestone during his junior year at Baruch. His squad went 23-7 in the regular season and thrashed York College 93-70 to win the 2010 ECAC Metro Postseason Championship. However, the team failed to defend its title his senior year, after the Stevens Institute of Technology eliminated it in the first round. 

Dream team: Arki Dikania Wisnu (fifth left) poses with members of the Indonesian basketball team during the 31st Southeast Asian Games, also known as the Hanoi 2021 SEA Games, held in the Vietnamese capital in May 2022 instead of November 2021 as originally scheduled. (Courtesy of Indonesian 5x5 Men’s Basketball team/Courtesy of Indonesian 5x5 Men’s Basketball team)

Turning pro with Satria Muda 

Arki’s big break in pro basketball came unexpectedly, namely during a vacation to Indonesia in 2009. 

“I practiced with [Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) side Satria Muda Pertamina], when I was still in Baruch. At the time, I was unfamiliar with Indonesian basketball,” said the point guard and small forward, who looked up to Jordan for his will, competitiveness and determination. “Among other things, the try-outs convinced me that I could compete [in the IBL].” 

Arki’s skills and versatility on the court made an impression on Satria Muda Pertamina owner Erick Thohir, who offered him a contract. However, Arki did not sign with Satria Muda until 2011, as he chose to finish his studies at Baruch first. 

Arki made his mark with Satria Muda as a rookie in the 2011-2012 season, helping them to a league best of 28-5. He also won the first of four league titles with the Jakarta-based club, and was named the finals most valuable player that season. Arki averaged 13.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game, winning him the Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year awards. 

However, Arki still had his fair share of challenges adapting to Indonesian basketball. 

“The challenges I faced included speaking [better Indonesian] to be able to communicate with my teammates, learning FIBA rules and adjusting to a new coach and style of play,” he said. “The biggest adjustment is playing in the hot weather, which takes some getting used to.” 

Arki was named to four IBL All-Star teams from 2017 to 2020, five All-Indonesia First teams from 2016 to 2021, among other accolades, and he helped Satria Muda win four IBL titles. He also made a name for himself at the regional level by helping the all-star Indonesia Warriors win the 2012 ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) championship by beating the San Miguel Beerman two games to one. 

As a Satria Muda stalwart, Arki proved an invaluable mentor for his teammates.

“[Arki] helped me immensely, especially during my first years [on Satria Muda]. He was a good leader on and off the court and taught me new moves that I was unfamiliar with,” said shooting guard Laurent Kokodiputra. “He showed me how the game should be played. Arki’s poise is also admirable and something that I try to emulate.” 

Satria Muda coach Youbel Sondakh agreed. 

“Arki has stepped up to be a leader in Satria Muda for nearly the past 10 years and has proven himself to be a great role model [for his teammates] to follow,” noted Youbel, who was Satria Muda’s assistant coach before becoming the team’s coach in 2014. “He also instilled a competitive attitude in his teammates. As a player who does not do things by half, Arki inspires them to excel.” 

In action: Indonesia's Arki Dikania Wisnu (center) protects the ball past South Korean players during the men's basketball preliminary Group A game between Indonesia and South Korea during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 14, 2018. (AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha)

Doing his part 

Arki represented the country in international competitions, most notably in the 2015, 2017 and 2019 SEA Games. It did not take long for him to find that the team members had their work cut out for them, particularly in the 2015 and 2017 Games.

In 2015, Indonesia found itself at the receiving end of an 81-52 thrashing by the Philippines in the first round and fell short in the championship match 72-64.

The country fared no better in 2017. The Philippines shattered the squad’s title hopes with a 94-55 blowout in the final, after the Red and Whites kicked off the tournament with a 4-0 start in the group stage. 

“Basketball is not the number one sport in Indonesia. On the other hand, the Philippines take basketball far more seriously,” said Arki. “That is why [the Philippines] has been so dominant in Southeast Asia.” 

The Indonesian basketball squad entered the 2021 SEA Games in Hanoi with Serbian coach Milos Pejic at the helm. The two sides faced off in the final after they tore past the round-robin stages of the tournament with identical 5-0 records.

The Red and Whites had a few tricks up their sleeve thanks to technical director Rajko Toroman, among them a dribble-drive offense emphasizing attacks and long-distance shots to wear out the opposition. Indonesia shot 13 of 31 three-pointers, while the Philippines sunk three out of 16 three-point shots. The latter also flubbed their free throws, making 24 of their 32 attempts on the line. 

While US National Basketball Association (NBA) products Bolden and Derrick Michael Xzavierro paved Indonesia’s way by making 32 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks between them, Arki’s leadership skills as a captain kept the team focused on their quest for gold.

“I have been privileged to be Arki’s teammate on the national team since 2015, as he has helped me become a more mature player. He does so by helping me work on my skills,” said Indonesia and Pelita Jaya point guard Andakara Prastawa, who scored eight points in the final. 

“Arki also taught me how to be a team leader on and off the court – and to deal with pressure.” 

Hardianus Lakudu, Arki’s teammate in Satria Muda and the Indonesian national squad, agreed with Prastawa. 

“Arki shares his experiences in leadership, including how to lead a team, keeping communications open with teammates. The latter is invaluable, as basketball is a team sport,” said Hardianus. 

“Anyone can lead, but setting a good example and giving input in a positive way is an art Arki has mastered.” 

Arki noted that Indonesian basketball was a work in progress. 

“Basketball [in Indonesia] has so much room for growth. It’s still not the country’s number one sport, but what I saw and experienced over the years with the national team showed how Indonesia basketball has improved,” he said. 

“If we have the right program and have the will to develop basketball here, we can be as good as the competition. But I think other countries are finally starting to take notice, especially as we are participating in more international tournaments.” 

Arki also hoped to play smarter and more efficient basketball, as he credited the game with building his character and leadership. Whether he can do this as a player or coach in the future remains to be seen. Regardless of what direction his career and Indonesian basketball as a whole take, it will doubtlessly be worth watching.