Nine basketball clubs to take part in 2000 league

JAKARTA (JP): Nine clubs are going to compete in the 2000 Nuvo Kobatama basketball league, including home favorite and defending champion Mahaka Satria Muda and former champion Panasia Indosyntec of Bandung.

The Wim Cycle division comprises Mahaka, Aspac, Indonesia Muda (IM) Texmaco, Bali Jeff Citra Satria Pelita (CSP) and Dwi Dasa Mitra Guntur.

The Kratingdaeng division consists of Panasia, Cahaya Lestari Surabaya, Pacific Caesar of Surabaya and Bima Sakti Nikko Steel of Malang.

The four series will be staged respectively in Malang, Surabaya, Bandung and Jakarta starting from July 22.

The Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi) official in charge of Kobatama, Doedie Gambiro, said he was sure the league would still maintain its quality despite the absence of top club Bhinneka Sritex of Surakarta, which is under sanction for walking off the court in the A Mild Kobatama tournament in April.

Doedie also said Perbasi would hire foreign referees to give short courses to local referees to minimize unfair judgment.

"We admit that our referees still make mistakes, but even NBA referees make mistakes, which are sometimes acceptable for competitors. This year we are trying to improve their quality by inviting foreign instructors," he told a media briefing here Tuesday.

The course will take place in the last two games of the four league series.

"Another two foreign referees will also supervise the final four," he added.

Referees have been criticized for unfair judgment since last year. In 1999, Panasia walked out of the semifinals, giving the victory to Mahaka.

Panasia was given a six-month ban in December and was fined Rp 10 million (US$1,075), but the club still ranked fourth in the main division.

Early this year, Bhinneka received the same bitter treatment and had to accept Aspac's victory in the tournament's final. Bhinneka was banned from competing in events staged by Perbasi for a year and was also fined Rp 10 million.

Both clubs were treated the same when facing Jakarta favorites Mahaka and Aspac under referee Hadi Wasito, who is claimed by Perbasi as one of the nation's best referees.

Take over

Aspac coach Tjetjep Firmansyah said his team was ready to take over the league's champion title from Mahaka. He said Aspac now has former Panasia's top center, Saut Lambok Jonson, on its squad.

"We will take the champion's crown from Mahaka."

Mahaka's team manager Erick Thohir stayed low profile, saying other clubs -- including four newcomers from Yogyakarta, Bali and Makassar -- could be tough challengers for his team before reaching the final.

"Mahaka's target is to retain the title. As preparation, we competed in the Asian Championships and also in the 2000 National Games (PON). We have 12 days to reconcile the team members. But Alhamdullilah (Praise God), all players can maintain their top condition," he said.

Mahaka has a greater chance to retain the title, given its fresh experience against Malaysia and Singapore national teams and in the ABC championships in Lebanon, although it finished at bottom.

IM team manager, Lexi Rohi, said Mahaka still had a long way to go before it could develop its playing character.

"Panasia still maintains its character and displays orderliness without Jonson."

Lexi said IM also is eying the title. "We want to reach the final. When entering the final four, we don't want to finish third."

CSP and Dwidasa said they did not set high-profile targets.

"We don't set any target as our players have less experience in Kobatama. We only want them to play their best," said Dwidasa's team manager Andre Mamuaya. (ivy)