Indonesian men's team lose in Manila

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian men's basketball team, who are preparing for the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, suffered the first defeat of its Philippines National Basketball League (NBL) invitational, losing 82-79 to Chopat Metrix on the second day of their tour on Tuesday.

Team manager Erick Thohir said that the game was tight but the Indonesians could not match their rivals, which is a member of the NBL, the only semiprofessional league, at PMI basketball hall in Manila.

"We had a chance to equalize when Chopat led 79-77, but the national team failed to score from its free throws. The player only netted one of the two chances," Erick said.

The team will face another local team, St. Francis, on Wednesday. (ivy)