Indonesia cagers pull off upset win over Filipinos<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia defied all the odds to brilliantly
\npull off a 88-81 upset victory over the highly regarded
\nPhilippines 88-81 (36-47) in the Grand Final of the Second South
\nEast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) championships in
\nSurabaya Friday.<\/p>\n
The victory in the action-packed match at Kertajaya sports
\nhall was a milestone in the history of national basketball: It
\nwas the first time ever that Indonesia beat the Philippines, the
\nregion's strongest basketball powerhouse.<\/p>\n
When the final buzzer sounded 2,500 jubilant home spectators
\nswarmed onto the court to congratulate their heroes as the whole
\nIndonesian camp boisterously celebrated the epochal triumph.<\/p>\n
\"Before the match I stressed to my players that they have to
\nstop the tide and dethrone the Philippines as the region's
\nbasketball kingpin in Southeast Asia. I told them they have to
\nmake history by overcoming the jinx. And the players rose to the
\nchallenge splendidly,\" an elated national coach Tjetjep
\nFirmansyah said.<\/p>\n
He attributed Indonesia's upset but well-deserved victory to
\nthe cagers' unflinching and never-say-die fighting spirit.
\n\"Our players were slightly inferior to the Filipinos in terms of
\nplaying skills and tactics, not to mention height and experience.
\nBut the boys made up for it by displaying tremendous fighting
\nspirit throughout the match and it ultimately ruffled the
\nFilipinos,\" Tjetjep said.<\/p>\n
He said the vociferous cheers from the partisan spectators
\nchanting \"Indonesia...Indonesia..\" and stamping their feet every
\ntime a home player scored,\"did wonders for our players' morale.\"
\n\"We thanked our lovely crowd for their support and
\nencouragement.\"<\/p>\n
Suko Daryono, from Jakarta's Aspac club, played a pivotal role
\nin Indonesia's triumph. The three-point specialist emerged as the
\ntop scorer with 29 points to his credit<\/p>\n
Captain Filixs Bendatu, Suko's club mate, contributed 27
\npoints, followed by Fictor Roring, also from Aspac, with 10
\npoints.<\/p>\n
\"I think the key to our victory was our great confidence and
\nnever-say-die spirit. We were not cowed by the Filipinos' high-
\nflying reputation. Before the match we were all determined to
\nbreak the drought....thank God we made it,\" said the 1.96m tall
\nSuko.<\/p>\n
Fightback<\/p>\n
Trailing 37-46 at half time, Indonesia staged a tremendous
\nfightback in the brisk see-saw game that saw fortunes fluctuate.<\/p>\n
Apparently disappointed at the leadership of referee Komut C
\nfrom Thailand, several Philippine players and officials
\nsurrounded the referee at the end of the match, hurling abuse and
\njostling and hustling him. Had it not been for the swift action
\nof security officials, the referee might have been manhandled by
\nthe angry Filipinos who appeared ready to vent their anger and
\nfrustration on him.<\/p>\n
Philippine assistant coach Louis Alas expressed his deep
\ndisappointment at a string of what he called \"highly questionable
\ndecisions\" by referee Komut. He specifically cited four free
\nthrows awarded by the referee to Indonesia in the final minutes.<\/p>\n
\"I feel the referee bore a personal grudge against us after we
\nbeat Thailand in a previous match,\"a fuming Alas told Antara. But
\nhe readily admitted the match was so close his team lost much of
\ntheir usual touch and rhythm playing the Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Indonesian manager Doddie Gambiro said the Thai referee had
\ndone his job \"quite well\". \"Perhaps he made several wrong
\ndecisions, but it was also at our expense not only at that of the
\nFilipinos.\"<\/p>\n
He strongly rejected the cynical allegations by some
\nPhilippine players and officials that Indonesia's victory was
\nhelped by the referee.<\/p>\n
SEABA secretary Yeoh Choo Hock of Malaysia agreed with Doddie.<\/p>\n
\"I can not justify the Philippines' angry protests. No victory
\nin basketball was decided by the referee,\" he said, adding:\"By
\nall means Indonesia deserved the victory.\"<\/p>\n
In the playoff for third and fourth placing, Thailand edged
\nMalaysia, 81-80 after leading 49-43 at half-time. (bas)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-cagers-pull-off-upset-win-over-filipinos-1447893297",
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