Indonesia Muda goes down to Bima Sakti in thriller<\/p>\n
By Ivy Susanti<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Bima Sakti Nikko Steel of the Eastern division
\nbeat Indonesia Muda (IM) Texmaco of the Western division by a
\nnarrow margin 62-60 on the third day of the A Mild Kobatama
\nNational Basketball League's third series at the Pacific
\nbasketball stadium on Friday.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Cahaya Lestari Surabaya of the Eastern division won
\neasily over Western division's underdog Siliwangi 81-54 before
\nthe home crowd. Siliwangi has never won any of six games during
\nthe league.<\/p>\n
IM managed to tie 31-31 in the first half but the Bima Sakti
\nplayers put the Jakarta-based favorites under constant pressure
\nin the second half and forced them to stay in the three-points
\narea.<\/p>\n
Bima had led 61-58 up until four minutes before the end of the
\nmatch when IM's point guard Ocky Tamtelahitu successfully
\nexecuted three free throws to trail 60-61.<\/p>\n
Just two seconds before the final whistle, Bima's center
\nDjoened Agung earned one point from a free throw to seal his
\nteam's victory.<\/p>\n
Bima coach, Armin Johan, said he was satisfied with his
\nplayers' performance.<\/p>\n
\"Our players were very relaxed tonight and they developed
\ntheir strategy well. In fact, IM has many good players compared
\nto the other clubs in the Western division, including Mahaka
\nSatria Muda,\" he said. Satria Muda, the Western division's runner
\nup, still had to play its second game later on Friday night.<\/p>\n
Armin referred to the Western division's players weakness in
\nzone defense.<\/p>\n
\"Our players developed a solid defense which could not be
\neasily penetrated by the Western players. This is part of our
\nstrategy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
IM's team manager, Lexi Rohi, said he was disappointed with
\nhis players.<\/p>\n
\"It's very disappointing. We only needed two points to win. We
\nwanted to win this game but the players' form was beyond
\nexpectation. Our next step will be tougher.\"<\/p>\n
Bima's point guard Oei Teng Kun scored 22 points while IM's
\nforward, Raymond Manuhutu, scored 13 points.<\/p>\n
Separately, Siliwangi's coach, Srigijanto, was not troubled by
\nhis team's record, saying his players were more skillful than
\nthose in other top clubs.<\/p>\n
\"Our young players are being prepared for the 2000 National
\nGames (PON). If we want to win the Kobatama title, we would have
\ncalled on senior players to play. But I think we can win the
\ntitle in 2000,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He expressed his hope that his team could avoid relegation by
\nbeating a second division team in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi)
\nplans to move the league's fourth series from Jakarta to Bandung
\ndue to security and commercial reasons.<\/p>\n
Doedie Gambiro, Perbasi's official in charge of Kobatama, said
\nPerbasi wanted to avoid any interruption which could possibly
\nhappen if social unrest erupted during the 1999 General Session
\nof the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Even if the Jakarta Police gives us permission to stage the
\nleague, we'll insist on moving the event to Bandung. We will
\navoid moving the matches to other cities during the series,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The fourth series from Oct. 19 to Oct. 24 will feature five
\nbasketball clubs from the Western division -- Aspac, Satria Muda,
\nIM, Citra Satria Pelita and Siliwangi.<\/p>",
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