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.