10 basketball teams participate in inaugural preseason Vit Cup
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In an attempt to whet fans's appetites before the season begins in January next year, 10 basketball clubs who took part in the recently-completed national league season will face each other at the inaugural Vit Cup tournament.
The postseason competition will be held at the Brojonegoro Sports Hall in South Jakarta from Oct. 15 to 23.
The teams, vying for the winner's Rp 25 million (US$2,500) cash prize, will be divided into two groups and play round-robin matches.
Group A comprises Aspac Texmaco, Satria Muda, Dwidasa Mitra, Wismilak CLS and Bima Sakti, while Group B sees Bhinneka Sritex, Panasia Indosyntec, Kalila, Indonesia Muda Star and Angsapura Sania.
The national basketball league, locally known as Kobatama, ended in July. Jakarta-based Aspac Texmaco won the trophy while Bima Sakti and Angsapura finished just behind them.
Aspac sees the Vit Cup as a testing ground for young players.
"We may play many young players who were rarely fielded during the league. They should find it a good moment in an attempt to tune in with the veterans," Cecep Firmansyah told reporters here on Friday.
However, Cecep confirmed that Aspac would play Ali Budimansyah, who transferred from the now-defunct Citra Satria Pelita (CSP) at the end of last season.
Newly-formed Kalila will make its tournament debut with seven former CSP players.
"We are not looking for the championship. We will be content with a place in the semifinals," coach Toto Sudarsono said.
League runner-up Bhinneka Sritex will be looking for revenge after their finals defeat against Aspac. I Made Sudyadnyana looks forward to the challenge and is determined to make the most of the opportunity.
Bandung-based Panasia, whose league campaign ended dismally, may be in for some consolation with key player Antonius Joko returning form injuries that kept him out of most of last season.
Private channel ANteve will air the semifinals and final matches on Oct. 22 and 23.