Dark horse Wismilak CLS eyes league's final ticket
BANDUNG (JP): Surabaya-based Wismilak CLS made the biggest upset in the third day of the fourth leg of the 2000 Nuvo Kobatama national basketball league Monday as it managed to defeat defending champion Mahaka Satria Muda of Jakarta 77-75.
However, the result did not influence Mahaka's position in the standing as the club remains in the third position to ensure a final round ticket in Jakarta in November.
Favorite champion Aspac of Jakarta still tops the competition with home favorite Panasia Indosyntec in second place.
CLS still has a chance to reach the finals as long as it manages to take over the fourth place in the overall standing from Indonesia Muda (IM) Texmaco. CLS has won five matches and lost eight to finish fifth while IM has seven victories and seven losses.
IM failed to secure its position following a 72-97 defeat from Panasia on the third match on Sunday night.
Aspac and Bima Sakti Nikko Steel were still playing in the second match on Monday as of press time.
CLS did not give Mahaka a chance to develop and took an early lead of 30-16 in the first quarter at the Padjadjaran Stadium.
Mahaka's power forward Wahyu Widayat scored 10 points and eight rebounds in the second quarter to help his club to narrow its loss to 40-42.
But CLS refused to give up easily and made all efforts to surpass Mahaka. CLS was still two points ahead when the third quarter ended in 60-57.
Another of Mahaka's forwards Dwui Eriano successfully executed the free throws to equalize CLS 72-72 in the decider. Mahaka's Syahrizal managed to earn one point from another free throw.
During the tight moment, Syahrizal and Gagan Rahmat committed some technical fouls and CLS was awarded nine free throws. CLS, who has never tasted the league's champion title, seemed to be nervous at this point and missed seven chances.
Just 13 seconds before the final buzzer, Mahaka's Amran A. Sinta slipped the ball from his hand but his teammate failed to grasp it. The ball fell into CLS's Widarta Boentara who quickly made it 76-73.
Dwui used the opportunity to catch up with CLS 76-75 in the 0.11 second. But in the remaining 0.9 seconds, Wahyu was fouled after pushing Charlie Affandi and the latter was awarded free throws.
Charlie was successful for one throw and his teammate jumped in excitement after the referee blew his whistle.
Mahaka's senior player Fiktor Gideon Roring admitted that his team had underestimated CLS.
"We have four matches in the last series. We knew already that if we lost all the matches, we still can perform in the final. So the players had reason to underestimate the other team," said Fiktor, who missed this series due to a knee injury.
CLS's coach Eddy Santoso said he was satisfied with his players' performances. He expressed his hope that the victory would boost the team's motivation to win the final berth.
"We have the chance to go into the final. But we must win the remaining three matches. Tomorrow's (Tuesday) match will determine our fate. We have to beat IM Texmaco first and we hope we can win the last two matches against Dwidasa Mitra and Bali Jeff Citra Satria Pelita (CSP)," he said.
Besides CLS and IM, Tuesday's matches will also feature Pacific Caesar against CSP and Panasia Indosyntec against Dwidasa Mitra. (ivy)