Basketball players need to break psychological barrier

By Ivy Susanti

JAKARTA (JP): Although basketball is one of the most popular sport in Indonesia, many people still doubt it can win the country medals in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next month.

History has recorded that ever since basketball was included in the biennial event in 1977, it could only contribute three bronze: from the women's team in Manila, the Philippines, in 1991, and in Jakarta in 1997; and from the men's team in Singapore in 1993.

Based on this, the women's team is the most suitable to fight in this year's game and contributes to the medal tally. But, unfortunately, the organizer has not included the women's event.

Officials from the National Sports Council had doubted earlier that basketball could contribute medals in the Games, citing poor physical test results as the main reason.

But in June, Moch. Hindarto, Indonesian chef de mission, expressed confidence that basketball players would make an effort to win silver as pledged and that they were proven to be serious in their training.

Two years ago, the Indonesian men's team was the last of the final four participating countries after its defeat from Thailand. The gold went to Asian strongman the Philippines, after defeating the Malaysian team.

This year, five players who have playing experience in the 1997 SEA Games, are enlisted in the squad. The five players are Ali Budimansyah, Cokorda Raka Satria Wibawa, Johanis Winar, Rommy Chandra and Tri Adyatna Adi Loka.

The SEA Games squad held several simulation tournaments with local clubs before leaving for the Philippines to take part in the six-day Southeast Asian Basketball Association championship, which started on July 2. The simulation also served as the selection means to set up the main squad.

In the first simulation in Bandung last May, the SEA Games squad trounced the local team, which comprised players from Panasia Indosyntec, Siliwangi, Mitra Guntur and Halim Kediri clubs.

In the second simulation, which started on June 17, the SEA Games squad challenged Indonesia's top clubs Mahaka Satria Muda, Aspac and Indonesia Muda Texmaco. But they were too strong for the teams.

During the A-Mild One Day Championship here on June 27, the first SEA Games team, comprising Saut Lambok Johnson, Tri Adyatna Adi Loka, I Made Sudiadyana, I Gde Agus Wahyudi, Johanis Winar and Oktoviarrow Tamtelahitu surprisingly lost to Aspac. The second team of the SEA Games squad, however, overran Panasia Indosyntec.

Skills

In team manager Danny Kosasih's opinion, the team needs to improve its defense skills and break a psychological barrier of being afraid to lose. Some players, he said, needed to improve the zone defense skill, that allows a player to protect a designated area of the floor rather than marking another player.

"They also have to improve their rebounding skills. We are very poor in out-of-bounds shooting," he said.

But the most important thing, he said, was that the team should overcome its mental attitude of being afraid to lose. "The SEA Games teams are always tired when competing with a local club, although they could overcome their opponents. I found out that they are afraid of losing," he said.

After returning from the Philippines, he said Indonesia was still third, after the Philippine and Singapore. Other countries like Malaysia and Thailand had equal strength with Indonesia, he said.

Team lineup

Point guards: Ali Budimansyah, Oktoviarrow Tamtelahitu

Power Forwards: Antonius Joko Endratmo, I Made Sudiadyana, Rommy

Chandra, Tri Adyatna Adi Loka

Centers: Cokorda Raka Satria Wibawa, Saut Lambok Johnson Shooting guards: Hardono Putro, I Gde Agus Wahyudi, Johanis Winar, Riko Hantono