Panasia Indosyntec stays on top at basketball meet

Panasia Indosyntec stays on top at basketball meet

By Ivy Susanti

SURABAYA (JP): Defending league champion Panasia Indosyntec of
the Eastern division beat Western division club Indonesia Muda
(IM) Texmaco 60-49 in day-four action of the A Mild Kobatama
National Basketball League's third season at the Pacific
basketball arena here on Saturday.

IM came into the game with one victory and two losses, while
Panasia was still unbeaten in its seven games. Panasia center
Saut Lambok Jonson scored a team-high 14 points, while IM forward
Raymond Manuhutu lead his team with 12.

Favorite Aspac of the Western division did not break a sweat
in defeating Cahaya Lestari Surabaya (CLS) 65-41 in the second
game. Aspac forward Rommy Tanaka contributed 25 points to his
team's victory.

Inspired by their victory over Western division favorite IM on
Friday night, Bima Sakti Nikko Steel of the Eastern division
maintained its fighting spirit to top Citra Satria Pelita (CSP)
66-50.

Panasia displayed a solid defense which troubled IM throughout
the game.

IM coach Lexi Rohi said he was satisfied with his players'
effort despite the loss.

"Based on our evaluations, the team has improved, particularly
in the last couple of games. I think the players were under a lot
of pressure to win today. They failed to establish good team work
and were impatient in their finishing. However, they did well
tonight," he said.

The last game between Siliwangi and Pacific Bank Swadesi
tipped off at 9 p.m.

CLS coach Wellyanto Pribadi blamed his team's loss on his
players poor form.

"They played below their ability. I think they were nervous
challenging a top club like Aspac, whose players are much taller
than ours. We often lost the ball when it was contested," he
said.

Bima Sakti coach Armin Johan said his players attuned their
play to the western club's style of play, allowing them to
develop their strategy on the court.

"Based on our scouting reports, we knew we could beat CSP
because they had unexperienced newcomers. CSP players usually
perform all-out in the first half but start to lose their energy
in the second half. So I told my players to apply pressure in the
first half and score a lot of points in the second half," he
said.

CSP coach Toto Sudarsono admitted his players were not used to
playing in pressure situations due to their lack of experience.

"Our players have good technical skills but they could not
deal with the pressure. They controlled the ball a lot but they
failed to score," he said.

Earlier on Saturday, players and officials pinned black
ribbons on their uniforms as a show of respect for Kobatama
secretary M. Ridwan, who died at Surabaya International Hospital
at 11:20 a.m. on Saturday after suffering a stroke on Friday
night. He was 36.

Colleagues said Ridwan suffered from high blood pressure. They
said Ridwan, who was in charge of statistics, worked hard to make
the league a success.

Ridwan was having dinner at the arena with friends from
private television station SCTV on Friday night when he suddenly
collapsed.

He was rushed to the hospital but never regained
consciousness. Ridwan is survived by his wife Ira Miranda and a
son. His body will be flown to Jakarta and will be buried either
in the capital or in his hometown of Bandung.