JAKARTA: The 2002 season of the Indonesian professional basketball competition or Kobatama will start next month, with the semifinals adopting a best-of-three game format.
In the past, the system was only used in the finals.
The league, which offers Rp 125 million in total cash prizes, features 10 teams split into two groups. The group matches will be held in four series beginning in Bandung, before moving to Salatiga, Jakarta and Malang.
The top two teams from each group qualify for the semifinals scheduled for Oct. 12, 13 and 15, with the finals on Oct. 26, 27 and 29.
Aspac Texmaco, Indonesia Muda Star, MIB Citra Satria, Satria Muda, Angsapura Sania are drawn in the West Division, while Panasia Indosyntec, Bhinneka Solo, Wismilak CLS, Bima Sakti Nikko Steel and Kalila Jakarta are grouped in the East Division. -- JP;AFP;
ANPAs..r.. Briefs-Cycling-Tour Kloden replaced by Hondo in Tour JP/11/Brief
Kloden replaced by Hondo in Tour
BONN, Germany: German cyclist Andreas Kloden will not compete in next month's Tour de France because of a knee injury and will be replaced by Telekom team-mate Danilo Hondo, the German outfit confirmed on Thursday.
Kloden, 26, has been hospitalised after pulling out of Tuesday's second stage of the Tour of Catalunya, where he was making his comeback after a two-month layoff with the recurring knee problem.
But his misfortune has turned in Hondo's favor with the 28- year-old finally getting a chance to compete in the Tour de France from July 2-28. --AFP
;AFP; ANPAs..r.. Briefs-Soccer-Euro Euro 2008 candidates handed over JP/11/Brief
Euro 2008 candidates handed over
NYON, Switzerland: The seven bids to host the 2008 European football championships were formally handed over to European football's governing body, UEFA, on Wednesday.
Only Hungary and Russia are offering to stage the championships alone, while Austria/Switzerland, Bosnia- Herzegovina/Croatia, Greece/Turkey, and Ireland/Scotland have all put forward joint bids.
A "Nordic 2008" bid gathers Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden with support from the footballing federations in Faroe Islands and Iceland. --AFP