Newly-promoted Dwidasa faces relegation in Kobatama c'ship

Newly-promoted Dwidasa faces relegation in Kobatama c'ship

BANDUNG (JP): Newly promoted Dwidasa Mitra of Jakarta is
facing relegation after it bowed out to home favorite Panasia
Indosyntec 104-59 in the fourth leg of the 2000 Nuvo Kobatama
national basketball league at the Padjadjaran Stadium Tuesday.

Dwidasa will have to defeat the bottom finisher Bima Sakti
Nikko Steel of Malang, East Java, to remain in the main division.
Dwidasa is now in the ninth position after winning three out of
14 matches while Bima Sakti moves one step ahead with four wins
out of 13 matches.

In an earlier match, Pacific Caesar of Surabaya lost to Bali
Jeff Citra Satria Pelita (CSP) 62-71.

While Indonesia Muda (IM) Texmaco was playing Wismilak CLS
later on Tuesday. IM's position as one of the four finalist would
be shaky should it lose in the match.

Bima Sakti suffered its first defeat of 63-98 to Jakarta-based
Aspac on Monday night.

Aspac still tops the standing with 13 out of 14 match
winnings. Panasia is second with 12 wins and two losses.
Defending champion Mahaka Satria Muda remains third with nine
wins and five losses while IM has so far won seven out of 13
matches.

Dwidasa failed to tame Panasia after the tip-off which allowed
Panasia to take command in the first quarter with 26-17. In the
second quarter, Dwidasa only managed to add 13 points while at
the same time Panasia extended its lead to 53-30.

Dwidasa, relying on seasoned players Rommy Tanaka Patipeilohy
and Andries Posumah, was weak in its defense and Panasia
dominating the whole match. Panasia kept the lead in the third
quarter 86-42.

Dwidasa team manager Andre Mamuaya said his team would have to
fight all-out in the remaining two matches against CLS and Bima
Sakti on Friday and on Saturday respectively.

"We have to win over Bima Sakti and we have to fight hard
against CLS. If we beat Bima Sakti, and we tied in the points, we
are still above Bima Sakti because we beat them in our last
encounter in Surabaya," he said.

Andre also expressed disappointment over his team's
performances in the league. "My heart hurts," he said before
bowing his head and leaving the basketball court.

Dwidasa was just promoted to the main division this year. Two
members of the first division, Angsapura Medan and Scorpio
Jakarta, are ready to take over the ninth position while Bhinneka
Sritex of Surakarta, which has been sanctioned, will return to
next year's league as the bottom finisher.

Angsapura and Scorpio will fight for a berth to the main
division from Nov. 20 to Nov. 22 after the leagues' final on Nov.
18 to Nov. 19.

While Pacific, which was earlier facing the relegation, is now
safe in the seventh position. It has so far won four out of 14
matches.

"If we lost in the remaining two matches, it won't affect our
position," said Pacific's manager Willy Winoto.

Pacific will meet Aspac Wednesday and Mahaka Friday.

Wednesday's matches will feature Mahaka against Bima Sakti and
CSP against Panasia. (ivy)