Aspac looks for fifth crown against Satria<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Defending champion HP Aspac is looking to retain the
\nIndonesian Basketball League (IBL) championship title for the
\nfifth consecutive season when it takes on Satria Muda Britama in
\nthe IBL's best-of-three finals series, beginning on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Satria will host the first game at the Kelapa Gading Sports
\nMall in North Jakarta on Sunday before Aspac hosts the second
\ngame at the Bung Karno Basketball Hall in Senayan, South Jakarta,
\nthe following week.
\n The Bung Karno Hall is also reserved for possible third game
\nshould the teams play a 1-1 tie after two games.<\/p>\n
Aspac's team manager Irawan Haryono remained confident about
\nthe team's chances.<\/p>\n
\"We're optimistic that we can win another title. We are all
\nprepared for the finals,\" Irawan said during a press conference
\nhere on Friday.<\/p>\n
Aspac topped the IBL standings after the regular season
\nschedule, which ran from May 9 to Aug. 3.<\/p>\n
Aspac advanced to the finals after beating CLS Good Day of
\nSurabaya in the semifinals while Satria booked its place at the
\nexpense of Bhinneka Sritex of Surakarta.<\/p>\n
Bhinneka is the only team that was able to beat Aspac during
\nthe 18-game regular season.<\/p>\n
With three national players -- Denny Sumargo, Riko Hantono and
\nRomy Chandra -- on the team, it will be a difficult task for
\nSatria, which has already lost to Aspac twice this season.<\/p>\n
\"We will do our best to win in the finals,\" Aspac's team
\ncaptain Riko Hantono said.<\/p>\n
Aspac beat Satria in the first series of the season in Jakarta
\nand the fourth series in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
Satria refused to be overawed, however, by those two losses.<\/p>\n
\"We realize that Aspac is a very strong team, but it does not
\nmean that the team is invincible,\" Satria's team manager Simon
\nPasaribu said.<\/p>",
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