Aspac and Hadtex clinch Kobatama repeat final<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Hadtex of Bandung and Aspac
\nof Jakarta displayed different styles on their way to their final
\nrematch in the Kobatama national basketball league championship
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
While Aspac had no troubles sweeping BS Nikko Steel of Malang,
\nEast Java 101-81, Hadtex had to flex its muscles before nailing
\nPelita Jaya with an upset 88-83 during a tense game.<\/p>\n
Hadtex defied the odds to surprise Aspac in last year's grand
\nfinal. The Bandung side also took on a favored team in
\nyesterday's do-or-die battle.<\/p>\n
\"We took the advantage of being the underdogs. It proved to
\ngive us the second wind we needed to retain our title,\" Hadtex
\nmanager Suwandi Bing Andi said after the thrilling game. \"Playing
\nwithout any mental pressure is the key to our success.\"<\/p>\n
Pelita, orchestrated by its new signings, Anthony Jones and
\nClaude Moore, focused on closely marking Hadtex's play-maker Ray
\nKelly. The strategy paid off, but Pelita wasted too much energy
\non the injured Kelly.<\/p>\n
Richard Lee Cannon led Hadtex's up-front charge in place of
\nKelly, pouring in a game-high 41 points until he was fouled out
\ntwo minutes before the final whistle. Kelly added 27 to put the
\nissue beyond the doubt.<\/p>\n
Trailing 46-50 in the first half, Pelita players regained
\ntheir momentum in the first five minutes after the break, pulling
\nahead to a 60-55 lead thanks to a series of brilliant attempts by
\ntheir sharp shooters Ocky Tamtelahitu and Apriyadi.<\/p>\n
The Jakartans, however, missed numerous scoring attempts,
\nleaving the high-spirited Bandung players to fight back with
\ntheir stylish fast breaks. Cannon, who was left unmarked, led the
\ngoal spree to move up 72-60.<\/p>\n
Hadtex never let Pelita come close, continuing its relentless
\nassault to soar to its highest margin of 82-73. With just one
\nminute left, Apriyadi's three-pointer helped Pelita reduce the
\ngap to 87-83. The forward, however, missed two decisive free
\nthrows in the dying seconds, allowing Saut Lombok Jhonson to seal
\nPelita's fate with a well-aimed final free throw.<\/p>\n
\"We were unlucky. Hadtex was not at its best, but we conceded
\ntoo many mistakes,\" Pelita manager Toto Sudarsono said.<\/p>\n
In the earlier game, Bobby Parks led Aspac's scoring with 34
\npoints. Mohammad Rifky added 25. Aspac withdrew all its starters
\nin the final five minutes after taking a commanding 101-74 lead.
\n(amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aspac-and-hadtex-clinch-kobatama-repeat-final-1447893297",
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