Mahaka SM eyes top position in western division<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Mahaka Satria Muda were preparing to take
\ncommand of the western division after it upset Cahaya Lestari
\nSurabaya (CLS) of the eastern division 70-45 in the sixth day of
\nthe third series of the A Mild Kobatama national basketball
\nleague at Pacific basketball stadium on Monday.<\/p>\n
Underdogs Siliwangi apparently could not improve their bottom
\nposition as they lost to Bima Sakti Nikko Steel 59-76 in the
\nfirst game. Siliwangi's fate in the premier division would be
\ndecided in the playoff.<\/p>\n
Favorites and champions Bhinneka Sritex Solo played against
\nIndonesia Muda Texmaco.<\/p>\n
Mahaka SM proved themselves to be ready for the overall title
\nalthough it has no national players in its squad. It stole the
\nshow on Sunday night after humiliating defending champions
\nPanasia Indosyntec 53-50.<\/p>\n
They had been preparing their team in Jakarta before the
\nleague kicked off on Aug. 31 in Cirebon, West Java.<\/p>\n
Mahaka SM's coach Rastafari Madjid said his players managed to
\ntake control of their game.<\/p>\n
\"Our defender, Yopie Junior, has saved many important points
\nfor our team. He also played as good as today when we met
\nPanasia. We have to keep our eye on CLS' Johanes Wahyudi,
\nMulyohadi Soesilo and Ferry Chandra, because they could shoot
\nvery well,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"CLS were playing monotonously, so we began to adjust to their
\nplay and try to better their performance,\" said Rastafari, former
\ncoach of the IM Texmaco.<\/p>\n
He also said that his players benefited from the poor play of
\nCLS' defenders, Wahyu Johny Kuncoro and Hari Suharsono, who
\nfailed in the selection for national team of the 1999 Southeast
\nAsian (SEA) Games.<\/p>\n
\"Johny and Hari are tall players, but Johny moved very slow.
\nSo we benefited from this situation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
CLS coach Wellyanto Pribadi said he was dissatisfied with his
\nplayers' performances.<\/p>\n
\"During the first half, our players suddenly lost their
\nfighting spirit and they produced so many faults. After that,
\nthey could not lift up their spirit,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also regretted Hari's poor performance.<\/p>\n
\"Only one player, Agung Sunarko, performed very well tonight.
\nHe has a lot of self-confidence. I don't know why the other
\nplayers could not free themselves from the pressure,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Tuesday's game will feature Panasia v Citra Satria Pelita,
\nPacific Bank Swadesi v Aspac and CLS v IM Texmaco. (ivy)<\/p>",
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