Bhinneka opens with a win in Kobatama
Bhinneka opens with a win in Kobatama
By Ivy Susanti
SURABAYA (JP): Eastern division runner-up Bhinneka Sritex Solo
made a good start on the first day of the third series of the
1999 A Mild Kobatama National Basketball League by gaining a
total victory of 108-40 over Western division's underdog
Siliwangi Bandung at the Pacific basketball stadium on Wednesday.
In the second game, Cahaya Lestari Surabaya (CLS), which
finished third in the Eastern division, beat Jakarta-based Citra
Satria Pelita (CSP) 82-64 before their home crowd.
In the third game, Jakarta-based IM Texmaco, third ranked in
the Western division, defeated Pacific Bank Swadesi 71-59, ranked
fourth in the Eastern division, before its home crowd.
With two national players on the team, Bhinneka outclassed
Siliwangi, consisting of mostly juniors from West Java. These
players are preparing for the 2000 National Games (PON) here.
Bhinneka is trailing behind the division champions, Panasia
Indosyntec, who were undefeatable in the preliminary second
series. Bhinneka won three out of four games in the last series
which was staged in Cirebon in West Java and Malang in East Java,
while Siliwangi did not win any games.
Bhinneka's forward Hardono Putro, a member of the 1999
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held in Brunei last month, scored 17
points. Teammate Hendro Andiono was the second contributor with
14 points, trailed by I Made Sudiadyana who scored 11 points.
Aditya Tutkey and Doni Tirta were the top scorers for
Siliwangi, gaining eight points each.
CLS's forward Hari Suharsono, who failed to join the SEA Games
team, and teammate Mulyohadi Soesilo scored the most for CLS with
14 points each.
Coach Wellyanto Pribadi said his team had played fast to break
through CSP's shaky defense.
"We play really fast and tactical. Citra Satria Pelita's
junior and senior players were still unable to cooperate well
enough for the first game," he said after the match.
Cahaya Lestari Surabaya and Citra Satria Pelita only won one
match each. They lost three times in the last two series.
Rematch
Bandung-based Panasia will challenge Western division
champions Aspac in the second day of the league on Thursday.
The match will most likely serve as the final rematch for
Panasia and Aspac. Panasia met Aspac in the do-or-die final last
year in Jakarta where it managed to upset the then defending
champions 55-45.
After two preliminary tours, both clubs still topped the score
with 100 points each. Both teams, which each contributed players
to the national team, claimed to retain the top position after
five matches in the series.
Panasia team manager, Danny Kosasih, said his team would play
fast to put pressure on Aspac's forwards and guards.
"Aspac has good forwards and shooter guards. But we must be
able to win in the three points area. Our players will play
faster than them," he said.
Aspac's coach, Tjetjep Firmansyah, said he had already
observed Panasia's strategy and he would instruct his players to
mark Panasia's forwards and shooter guards.
"Our players usually play together with Aspac players on the
national team. I have a new strategy to beat them and I will
apply it should Panasia perform all-out," said Tjetjep, former
coach for the SEA Games basketball team.