Mahaka outlasts IM Texmaco 68-64<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Mahaka Satria Muda produced some sweet revenge
\nas it beat Indonesia Muda (IM) Texmaco with a narrow 68-66 in the
\nopening match of the third leg of 2000 Nuvo Kobatama national
\nbasketball league on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Falling behind almost throughout the Jakarta derby, Mahaka
\nturned the tables on IM, thanks to a decisive steal by Dwui
\nEriano, who then sank the ball to give his team a slight 66-65
\nlead just 25 seconds before the final buzzer.<\/p>\n
Two free throws from Amran A. Sinta extended the gap to 68-65
\nwith 16 seconds left, and it looked like the game was over at
\nIM's expense.<\/p>\n
With victory within sight for Mahaka, a foul by Amran five
\nseconds afterward, however, rekindled IM's hopes. But guard Lucky
\nPinontoan wasted that very last chance, as only one of three free
\nthrows was on target.<\/p>\n
In the day's other game, Bandung-based Panasia Indosyntec beat
\nPacific Caesar of Surabaya 116-97. Panasia's senior player I Gde
\nAgus Wahyudi was named the Most Valuable Player of the match.<\/p>\n
Mahaka lost to IM in the first leg in Malang, East Java, and
\nhad eagerly waited Saturday's rematch.<\/p>\n
IM's new coach M. Rifky had no excuse for his squad's nervy
\nperformance in the dying minutes. \"It is a basketball game after
\nall,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added his team could not maintain their pace during the
\n4x12 minutes and lost their control only at the end of the game.<\/p>\n
\"Their performance is up and down. I had expected us to reach
\nour top form throughout the game, but we lost the rhythm,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He refused to lay the blame on Doni, who let the ball slip out
\nof his fingers in a tussle with Dwui.<\/p>\n
\"Doni did not do it on purpose. Such a failure is normal in a
\ngame,\" Rifky said.<\/p>\n
Mahaka's Wahyu Widayat was elected the Most Valuable Player of
\nthe match.<\/p>\n
Mahaka's general manager Erick Thohir regretted the way the
\nreferee handled the match.<\/p>\n
\"When Dwui moved to block an IM player, the referee awarded
\nour opponents free throws although he did not even touch the net.
\nNot long after that, Wahyu did the lay-up and Doni touched him,
\nbut the referee did not call him.<\/p>\n
\"The last foul was very flagrant but there was no response
\nfrom the referee. I shouted from the court side; I jeered the
\nreferee with obscene words and I was ready at that time for a
\ntechnical foul. But it did not happen.<\/p>\n
\"I just wonder how can we improve our basketball if the
\nreferees are all like that\" he said. (ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mahaka-outlasts-im-texmaco-68-64-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}