Aspac, Panasia claim wins in Kobatama sixth serie

Aspac, Panasia claim wins in Kobatama sixth serie

JAKARTA (JP): League leaders Aspac and Panasia Indosyntec
taught their rivals on Thursday a never-say-die spirit can be
more important than strategy and skill.

Defending champion Panasia Indosyntec was taken to overtime by
Indonesia Muda (IM) Texmaco before pulling out a gutsy and
grueling 62-59 (35-23) victory, while Aspac rebounded in the
second half of its game to defeat Bhinneka Sritex 48-46 (25-28)
in the sixth series of the 1999 A Mild Kobatama national
basketball league at the Senayan basketball arena.

In the last match of the day, Citra Satria Pelita defeated
Bima Sakti Nikko Steel 59-53 (22-20).

Panasia emerged victorious in its hard-fought battle with
Jakarta-based IM when power forward Antonius Joko Endratmo,
ignoring the hostile crowd, hit two free throws with two seconds
left in the five-minute overtime to seal his team's victory.

Joko went to the line after IM's Muhammad Rifky lost the ball
with 12 seconds left. Then, perhaps frustrated by the constant
pressure he faced, Rifky's teammate Charles Bronson committed a
technical foul, giving Joko two free throws.

"It's difficult for us to beat the champion (Panasia) because
they have a better fighting spirit," IM coach Hakiem Rahman said.

In other action, one of Aspac's younger players, Andi
Poejakusuma, was able to elude the tight defense of the Bhinneka
forwards to tip the ball home with 12 seconds remaining and give
his team a tough 48-46 victory.

Bhinneka vainly attempted to score the tying basket but Hendro
Andiono lost the ball out of bounds as the last few seconds
ticked off the clock.

Jakarta-based Aspac still stands atop the league with 16 wins
and one loss, while Bandung-based Panasia trails in second place
with 14 wins and three losses.

After winning two and losing two in the current series,
Surakarta-based Bhinneka is currently in third, but could fall
back after its game on Saturday against Mahaka Satria Muda, which
stands in fourth place.(ivy)

Standings:
Aspac (17 Games, 16 Won, 1 Loss, 33 Points);
Panasia Indosyntec (17 Games, 14 Won, 3 Loss, 31 Ponts);
Bhinneka Sritex (17 Games, 12 Won, 5 Loss, 29 Points);
Mahaka Satria Muda (16 Games, 12 Won, 4 Loss, 28 Points);
Indonesia Muda Texmaco (17 Games, 9 Won, 8 Loss, 26 Points);
Cahaya Lestari Surabaya (16 Games, 6 Won, 10 Loss, 22 Points);
Bima Sakti Nikko Steel (17 Games, 5 Won, 12 Loss, 22 Points);
Pacific Bank Swadesi (16 Games, 5 Won, 11 Loss, 21 Points);
Citra Satria Pelita (17 Games, 4 Won, 13 Loss, 21 Points);
Siliwangi (16 Games, 0 Won, 16 Loss, 16 Points)