Aspac routs Mahaka 60-49 to extend winning streak

JAKARTA (JP): Aspac maintained its 100 percent win record in the 2000 Nuvo Kobatama basketball league on Monday with a 60-49 rout of defending champion Mahaka Satria Muda.

The result strengthened Aspac's lead in the nine-field tournament with 20 points after winning all its 10 games so far. Aspac is the only unbeaten team so far in the third leg of the league.

But Aspac got off to a shaky start on Monday, falling 15-18 after the first quarter. Fielding most of its towering players, Aspac let Mahaka steal many of its scoring chances.

The second quarter saw Aspac struggle all the way to close the gap, but Mahaka maintained the pace to lead Aspac 32-29 going into the third quarter.

Playing before the crowd of some 1,000, who included chairman of the Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi) Sutiyoso, Wahyu Widayat extended Mahaka's lead to 34-29. Bayu Radityo also scored to keep the game under the defending champion's control.

Suko Waluyo led Aspac's fightback with a well-angled three- pointer that reduced the margin by just two points. Aspac needed a gamely effort from Cokorda Satria Wibawa, who converted a point from a Ferry Rinaldo's assist to even the tie at 36-36.

From that moment on, Aspac took over the command. Rinaldo scored from a short pass fed by Cokorda to put their team ahead for the first time in the match at 38-36.

Top scorer Rinaldo grabbed another point to stretch Aspac's lead, before Amran A. Sinta scored a three-pointer to close the gap at 40-39 just before the third quarter ended.

The final quarter belonged to Aspac. It intensified its defensive zone, which proved effective to keep Mahaka's attacks at bay.

Sensing a defeat ahead, Mahaka players began to lose their self control. They committed many fouls which awarded Aspac a series of free throws. Riko Hantono successfully executed eight throws while Inal, as Rinaldo is fondly called, scored five out of seven chances from free throws.

Aspac's team manager Irawan Haryono admitted that his team failed to concentrate in the first and second quarters.

"They (Mahaka) performed well but they were not good in the finishing touch. In the last two quarters, we intensified our defense because we knew they would find it difficult to break it through," he said.

Mahaka's coach Rastafari H. Madjid praised Aspac for being well prepared for the game.

"Aspac did not lose control over the whole match. They played consistently. We failed to dictate the game and our opponents. All of our players were eager to make points and were too hasty," Rastafari said.

Inal, who was elected the Most Valuable Player of the match, attributed his team's victory to its composure.

"Mahaka's supporters tried to distract our concentration with their noise. But we had become used to it." (ivy)