Favorite Aspac beats IM Texmaco 72-44

BANDUNG (JP): Favorite champion Aspac of Jakarta faced no difficulties in overwhelming Indonesia Muda (IM) Texmaco 72-44 in the first day of the fourth series of the 1999 A Mild Kobatama National Basketball League here on Monday.

Separately, Citra Satria Pelita defeated underdog Siliwangi 88-64 in the second match at the Padjadjaran basketball stadium here.

Citra Satria Pelita will meet IM Texmaco in Wednesday's first match. The second match will be between Western Division runner- up Mahaka Satria Muda (SM) and Siliwangi.

The fourth series features five teams from the western division: Aspac, Mahaka SM, IM, Citra Satria Pelita (CSP) and Siliwangi.

Aspac played without any pressure from IM, who was once a threat to the top clubs in the premier division. Aspac was the runner-up in the 1998 league, while IM trailed in third position.

IM apparently could not bounce back to win the game which was its first performance at Padjadjaran basketball stadium. It finished seventh in the last three series, and had to win in the remaining nine games to earn a berth in the final four.

Aspac's rising star Riko Hantono was the most valuable player of the day, earning 16 points, three assists and five rebounds in 28-minute performances.

His senior, A.F. Rinaldo took 15 points and Adi Loka scooped 12.

Charles Bronson of IM produced 33 points and his teammate Rommy Chandra cut 18. Both scored 10 points each out of 44 points for their team.

Rommy, IM's top forward, was injured in the last minute, which sealed IM's fate in the game.

Aspac coach Tjetjep Firmansyah said that his players could enjoy the game right from the beginning.

"They could resist IM's players. They were instructed to constantly mark each player," said Tjetjep, who was coach to the 1999 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games national basketball team.

IM's coach Hakiem Rachman said that his players could not escape Aspac's pressure and failed to start the attack.

"After Rommy's injury, our team lost the top player. But that's basketball. Aspac is a strong team because it has experienced players," he said.

Aspac and IM have two national players on their team. Aspac has Riko and Adi Loka while IM has Rommy and Rocky Tamtelahitu.

Only one match will be played on Tuesday between Aspac and Mahaka SM. Mahaka lost to Aspac 47-56 in the first series in Cirebon, West Java. (43)