Aspac meets Panasia in league final<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Home favorite Aspac edged out Indonesia Muda
\n(IM) Texmaco 86-58 to set up the final clash with Bandung-based
\nPanasia Indosyntec in the 2000 Nuvo Kobatama national basketball
\nleague at Senayan indoor stadium.<\/p>\n
Panasia, three-times league's champion since 1994, took
\nrevenge over the defending champion Mahaka Satria Muda 73-57
\nearlier Saturday. Last year, Panasia walked out of the semis in a
\nprotest to the judges' decision, paving the way for Mahaka to
\nearn its first title.<\/p>\n
Sunday's final will be Aspac's fifth encounter with Panasia,
\nin which both team won two and lost two matches each. Aspac
\nfailed to cruise into the 1997 final which saw Panasia beat
\nBhinneka Sritex of Surakarta to clinch its third title.<\/p>\n
Aspac team captain Antonius Ferry Rinaldo scored 21 points and
\nmade five assists to earn the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the
\nmatch. Other MVP was Panasia's top rebounder Antonius Joko
\nEndratmo, who scored 17 points and made three assists.<\/p>\n
Aspac seemed too strong for IM, which have some tough fights
\nbefore reaching the final four. Aspac did not give IM's a chance
\nto breath and put pressure since the jump ball. Aspac ended the
\nfirst quarter with 17-14 victory.<\/p>\n
Aspac advanced further in the second quarter which ended in
\n38-27. A tight mark from Aspac players had deterred IM's forward
\nand guards to move. Aspac extended its lead to 56-38 and was
\nundefeatable in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n
IM will play Mahaka for the third and fourth places Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"As the winning team, Aspac made higher shooting percentage
\nthan us. They have also developed a good defense. Judging the
\noverall performances, I conclude that my players have done very
\nwell,\" IM coach Muhammad Rifky said after the match.<\/p>\n
Aspac players successfully executed 26 of 45 chances for the
\nfield goals while IM only made 12 of 44 chances.<\/p>\n
IM's team captain Rommy Chandra regretted his team's form.<\/p>\n
\"We have set up a strategy but we can't apply realize it on
\nthe court. Aspac players really freeze me and the remaining four
\nplayers could not shoot very well.\"<\/p>\n
Inal, nicknamed for Rinaldo, said that Aspac was ready to face
\nPanasia in the final.<\/p>\n
\"We have to start the pressure on them. Both teams have good
\nrotation. We will force them to play outside the key zone.\"<\/p>\n
While Aspac coach Tjetjep Firmansyah said his team have
\nlearned much from its humiliating defeat from IM in the fourth
\nseries in Bandung.<\/p>\n
\"At that time, we failed to switch our players who only marked
\none IM's player. If we allow their outer forwards and guards to
\npenetrate into the key zone, we will lost.\"<\/p>\n
Mahaka's team captain Amran Andi Sinta could not hide his
\ntears after the match.<\/p>\n
\"I'm crying because when we won the league title last year,
\npeople said that we're only lucky. And this year's result proved
\nthe sayings to be true.\"<\/p>\n
He also expressed his disappointment over the defeat.<\/p>\n
\"I want to win today's match and reach the final as a birthday
\ngift. However, the team has done its best and this is the best
\nresult for us,\" said the 28-year-old point guard.<\/p>\n
He said that Mahaka must win over IM on Sunday to save its
\npride. (ivy)<\/p>",
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