Mahaka Satria Muda set to defend league title

JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Mahaka Satria Muda of Jakarta aims to defend its title in the 2000 Nuvo Kobatama national basketball league final four.

Mahaka's team captain, Amran A. Sinta, said his club was well prepared for the upcoming event at the Senayan Indoor Stadium on Nov. 18 and Nov. 19.

Mahaka will face Bandung-based Panasia Indosyntec in the semifinals while the other match will feature home favorite Aspac and Indonesia Muda (IM) Texmaco.

"I'm optimistic that we can beat Panasia Indosyntec. Moreover, Panasia will be without its top center Saut Lambok Jonson," he told a media briefing on Wednesday.

Jonson, former member of the national team in 1999, has moved to Aspac ahead of this year's league.

The semifinals match between Mahaka and Panasia will be the second encounter for both clubs since Mahaka was inaugurated in 1999.

Their first meet in the 1999 league's semifinal ended bitterly when Panasia walked out of the match in protest to the referee's decision. Panasia was banned from national competitions for six- months and was fined Rp 10 million (US$1060).

Mahaka beat Bhinneka Sritex of Surakarta in the final.

Mahaka's men's team will still rely on its senior player Fictor Roring and Wahyu Widayat Jati. While its women's division Mahaputri has included veteran women's player Tuti Gunawan in its lineup. The women's final four will take place on Nov. 10 and Nov. 11.

Mahaka's general manager, Erick Thohir, said his team would not lodge any strong protests for unfair treatment.

"For me, winning or losing is God's decision. We know that referees' decisions might be controversial but we will question in a peaceful manner," he said.

The Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi) official in charge of Kobatama, Doedi Gambiro, said the association had hired two referees from Australia to supervise the semifinal and the final match.

The semifinal event will be the first experience for Mahaputri, which just moved under Mahaka foundation. Mahaputri, formerly belonging to Aspac, will face Rajawali of Bandung.

"We want to win over Rajawali in the semifinals. But it depends on good teamwork on court," said team captain Puspa Indah Pamungkas. (ivy)