Aspac, Bhinneka to compete for basketball league title

Aspac, Bhinneka to compete for basketball league title

JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Aspac Texmaco and Bhinneka
Sritex of Surakarta, Central Java, will tussle for the champions
title in the Nuvo Kobatama basketball league final, which will
apply the best-of-three system for the first time.

"Bhinneka's management board is satisfied with the players
success in having reached the final. They have shown consistency
and a fighting spirit that will boost Bhinneka's image to
basketball fans," Bhinneka assistant manager, Tommy Lianggono,
told a media conference on Thursday.

Tommy said his players were confident of taking the league's
championship title from Aspac.

Bhinneka reached the final after beating 1999 champion Satria
Muda while home favorite Aspac ousted Panasia Indosyntec of
Bandung at last weekend's semifinals.

"Our players have always had problems when facing Satria Muda
and Panasia. It's easier for them to challenge Aspac, who will be
under pressure to retain the title."

In the league, Aspac only lost twice to Satria Muda in the
second leg in Surakarta, Central Java and the fourth leg in
Bandung.

"Bhinneka managed to reach the 1997 and 1999 final. We made an
impressive achievement in our first participation in Kobatama in
1997, by beating Aspac in the semifinal.

"In 1998, we were eliminated in the qualifying round. But in
1999, we beat Aspac, who were the favorites at that time, in the
semifinal. We only lost to Satria Muda in the final because we
underestimated their players, who had never beaten us before."

The management of Bhinneka had earlier pledged to provide a
cash bonus of Rp 500 million (US$43,860) if the team wins the
title. The players have already pocketed Rp 250 million after
ensuring their place in the finals.

The finals will take place on July 7, July 8 and July 10 and
will be aired live by SCTV private station at 3:30 p.m. Jakarta
Time.

In contrast to Bhinneka's enthusiasm to face the finals, Aspac
took the prospect of the finals calmly.

"Aspac hasn't made any special preparation to face Bhinneka
because we have met many times before and we know our strength
and weaknesses. But Tommy must bear in mind that Aspac, which
lost to them in 1997, was different from Aspac in 2001," manager
Lexi Rohi said.

He also said that Aspac saw Bhinneka as a relatively easy foe,
compared to other teams.

"We have a good defense that will enable us to beat Panasia in
the semifinals. But we received another boost after knowing that
Bhinneka won their first semifinals match. We now have another
easy way to retain the title."

As Aspac is more dominant due to its solid defense and the
player's good stamina, Bhinneka is famous for its aging players.

"We play efficiently. Our players are old, but they are
experienced. Our substitutes also possess the same skills. The
players are currently polishing their three-pointer shooting
ability to match Aspac's defense," Tommy said.

Lexi said that Aspac's players knew what to do to knock
Bhinneka out and lift the President's Cup. "We are focusing on
our defense," Lexi said. (ivy)