IM targets fifth in IBL 2004

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta

Jakarta-based basketball club Indonesia Muda (IM) Panasonic, which is currently involved in a dispute with Bhinneka Sritex following a heated exhibition game, has set itself a modest target for the next the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) season.

"Last year we only finished tenth, but we should do better than that this time ... at least making it into the top five," coach Priautama Tobing said during a media conference in which the club announced a sponsorship deal with electronics company Panasonic.

"We know it will be difficult to achieve. But we're determined to move ahead step by step," Tobing said.

Tobing said that the team had recruited three new players: Agus Sumantri, Arief Widodo from Mitra Kalila and Lucky Pinontoan from Citra Satria.

The second season of the IBL will run from May to August, incorporating five series with 10 teams.

Half of the participating teams are Jakarta-based clubs: defending champion Aspac HP, Citra Satria, Indonesia Muda Panasonic, Mitra Kalila, Satria Muda Britama.

The other five are Panasia Indosyntex of Bandung, Angsapura Sania of Medan, Bima Sakti Nikko Steel of Malang, Bhinneka Sritex of Surakarta and CLS Good Day of Surabaya.

Jakarta will host the opening series from May 9 to May 16.

Tobing said that Indonesia Muda had been training with Citra Satria for the last few months.

"We have learnt a lot from Citra Satria. They were the runners-up last year," he said.

On Thursday, his players played an exhibition game with Bhinneka but the event turned sour with players from both sides becoming involved in fights.

Hatta Patria of Bhinneka had his nose injured and claimed that Indonesia Muda players had punched him in the face.

The team's management demanded that IM apologize for the incident, which was rejected with Tobing reasoning that they were not to blame for the incident.

"It's impossible for one of our players to have hit a Bhinneka player. Our players are smaller than the Bhinneka players and would not dare to pick fights with them," Tobing explained.