Bhinneka should regain its spirit to win the next match<\/p>\n
SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Home favorite Bhinneka Sritex
\nneeds to overcome its psychological barrier if it wants to win
\nthe game on Sunday against defending champion Panasia Indosyntec
\nin the 1999 A Mild Kobatama national basketball league's fifth
\nseries.<\/p>\n
Bhinneka suffered a humiliating defeat of 80-89 (34-36) by
\npowerless team Pacific Bank Swadesi of Surabaya in its second
\nmatch at Bhinneka basketball stadium here on Friday night.
\nEarlier, Panasia did not sweat it out to beat Bima Sakti Nikko
\nSteel 76-59 (47-29).<\/p>\n
In the women's league on Friday, Cahaya Lestari Surabaya (CLS)
\ngained a total victory of 108-38 over Yogyakarta's Mataram Utama;
\nRajawali Bandung romped to 61-39 over Surabaya-based Sahabat; and
\nRajawali Putih Surabaya beat Merah Putih Medco of Jakarta 76-75.<\/p>\n
CLS defeated Bima Sakti 73-65 with CLS taking the command at
\nthe close of the first half with 36-31.<\/p>\n
With a record of one win and one loss in this series,
\nBhinneka, ranked fifth in the 1998 league, is still the runner-up
\nof the eastern division after Panasia, which is undefeatable in
\noverall two games.<\/p>\n
But whatever the result on Sunday, it will not immediately
\npull Bhinneka out of the final-four contention. Panasia and
\nwestern division's champion Aspac have certainly earned a berth
\neach, while the two others will be decided in the sixth series
\nscheduled for Jakarta from Nov. 13 to Nov. 20.<\/p>\n
Western division runner-up Mahaka Satria Muda, the bottom
\nfinisher in last year's league, is eying one ticket while
\nBhinneka is another favorite from the eastern division.<\/p>\n
Sunday's game will also pit Pacific against CLS.<\/p>\n
Bhinneka's assistant coach Hartono said that his team has a
\nhandful of strong and skilled players to challenge Panasia but it
\nwas short on talented substitutes.<\/p>\n
"Moreover, Panasia has good team work," he told The Jakarta
\nPost on Friday.<\/p>\n
He said his team should regenerate because it only depended on
\nits senior players. He said two of its senior players were 35
\nyears old.<\/p>\n
Bhinneka will rely mostly on its two top players who are also
\nmembers of the national team, I Made Sudiadnyana and Hardono
\nPutro Prajogo. It also has an astute young forward, Sandy Salomo.<\/p>\n
Hartono said his players should win over the psychological
\nbarrier. "I hope they won't lose their fighting spirit after
\ntheir surprising defeat by Pacific."<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Panasia's coach Dedy Kuskanto cited a 50:50 chance
\nagainst Bhinneka considering a full support from the home crowd.<\/p>\n
"But I'm optimistic my team can win if my players can escape
\nthe pressure from Bhinneka's supporters," he said.<\/p>\n
Panasia boasts evenly skilled players in its core and
\nsubstitute line-up.(ivy\/44)<\/p>",
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