Bhinneka should regain its spirit to win the next match
Bhinneka should regain its spirit to win the next match
SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Home favorite Bhinneka Sritex
needs to overcome its psychological barrier if it wants to win
the game on Sunday against defending champion Panasia Indosyntec
in the 1999 A Mild Kobatama national basketball league's fifth
series.
Bhinneka suffered a humiliating defeat of 80-89 (34-36) by
powerless team Pacific Bank Swadesi of Surabaya in its second
match at Bhinneka basketball stadium here on Friday night.
Earlier, Panasia did not sweat it out to beat Bima Sakti Nikko
Steel 76-59 (47-29).
In the women's league on Friday, Cahaya Lestari Surabaya (CLS)
gained a total victory of 108-38 over Yogyakarta's Mataram Utama;
Rajawali Bandung romped to 61-39 over Surabaya-based Sahabat; and
Rajawali Putih Surabaya beat Merah Putih Medco of Jakarta 76-75.
CLS defeated Bima Sakti 73-65 with CLS taking the command at
the close of the first half with 36-31.
With a record of one win and one loss in this series,
Bhinneka, ranked fifth in the 1998 league, is still the runner-up
of the eastern division after Panasia, which is undefeatable in
overall two games.
But whatever the result on Sunday, it will not immediately
pull Bhinneka out of the final-four contention. Panasia and
western division's champion Aspac have certainly earned a berth
each, while the two others will be decided in the sixth series
scheduled for Jakarta from Nov. 13 to Nov. 20.
Western division runner-up Mahaka Satria Muda, the bottom
finisher in last year's league, is eying one ticket while
Bhinneka is another favorite from the eastern division.
Sunday's game will also pit Pacific against CLS.
Bhinneka's assistant coach Hartono said that his team has a
handful of strong and skilled players to challenge Panasia but it
was short on talented substitutes.
"Moreover, Panasia has good team work," he told The Jakarta
Post on Friday.
He said his team should regenerate because it only depended on
its senior players. He said two of its senior players were 35
years old.
Bhinneka will rely mostly on its two top players who are also
members of the national team, I Made Sudiadnyana and Hardono
Putro Prajogo. It also has an astute young forward, Sandy Salomo.
Hartono said his players should win over the psychological
barrier. "I hope they won't lose their fighting spirit after
their surprising defeat by Pacific."
Meanwhile, Panasia's coach Dedy Kuskanto cited a 50:50 chance
against Bhinneka considering a full support from the home crowd.
"But I'm optimistic my team can win if my players can escape
the pressure from Bhinneka's supporters," he said.
Panasia boasts evenly skilled players in its core and
substitute line-up.(ivy/44)