Mahaka SM loses in ABC Champions Cup

Mahaka SM loses in ABC Champions Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta's Mahaka Satria Muda (SM) club has
failed to shine in the ABC Champions Cup at Ghazir Club Court in
Beirut, Lebanon.

The champion of the 1999 national basketball league was
thrashed by Al Manama of Bahrain 64-93 in Group B's game on
Monday evening. In the opening game on Sunday, it gave up to
Malaysia's top club Petronas 73-79.

SM team manager Erick Thohir said that players were burned out
on Monday, after they fought hard against Petronas the previous
day.

"The players' performance was very poor. They played a good
game on Sunday, when they nearly outshine Petronas, but it ended
up in a narrow margin after all,"

"On the other hand, the Bahrain team played very well. The
team's humiliating defeat of 54-90 to Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad
apparently boosted its motivation," he told The Jakarta Post by
telephone.

He said his players were left behind with 33-51 in the first
game. "In the second game, our players tried to catch up with
Bahrain. It was a tight game, but it was much too late. Bahrain
players had a solid defense and they could earn points anywhere
they shot the ball."

He also said Bahrain had hired two players from the United
States. Except for Indonesia, Iran and Syria, all the clubs
competing in the annual event boasted foreign players.

On Tuesday, SM will face Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia.

"It will be difficult for our players to win the game against
Saudi Arabia. The team has four players who are over 2.05 meters
tall. We can't predict the result, let's see tomorrow," he said.

He said Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Al Rayan of Qatar were
favorites in the Cup.

Erick also said Indonesia received warm support from local
fans, but it had disappeared following SM's poor performance in
the last two games.

"The local nationwide TV station, LBC, aired our first game
against Petronas and today's game against Al Manama live from the
court. They appreciate us because we come from a far away
country, they thought we were one of the best teams in our
region.

"But after today, the TV station may stop live broadcasts of
our games," he said.

Indonesia is in the same group as Malaysia, Qatar, Bahrain and
Saudi Arabia. Erick also said China, Japan and Uzbekistan had
withdrawn from the Cup for security reasons.(ivy)