Panasia withdraws from semifinal match

JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Panasia Indosyntec withdrew from the semifinal match of the 1999 A Mild Kobatama national basketball league on Saturday at the Senayan Indoor Stadium and granted the final berth to home favorite Mahaka Satria Muda (SM).

Panasia was downed 37-39 in high tension in the remaining 59.6 seconds of the second half when one of the referees, Hadi Wasito gave an outball to Panasia. Mahaka protested the decision, and after a brief review, Hadi decided on a jump ball.

But Bandung-based Panasia refused to return to the match, and after waiting for five minutes it was declared the loser.

First-timer SM will challenge Surakarta-based Bhinneka Sritex in the final on Sunday. Bhinneka surprisingly upset home favorite Aspac, the 1995 and 1996 winner, 47-44 (32-15).

Bhinneka will face Mahaka in the final, which will be aired live by SCTV at 4 p.m. Sunday

The decision enraged Panasia, and manager Danny Kosasih immediately declared the team would quit the league for good.

"Panasia will quit Kobatama. It's our owner's decision. We can't accept the referee's decision," Danny said emotionally after the match.

Panasia supporters turned violent and started throwing things onto the court. Some Panasia players could not hide their emotions. Power forward Antonius Joko Endratmo was seen crying at the bench and point guard Kiki Susilo just stared blankly and refused to comment on his team's decision.

Panasia's forward Johannis Winar said he regretted the referee's decision.

"Being a referee is not easy. He had to make a fair decision in seconds. The referee had given the ball to us. He should be consistent with his decision," he said emotionally.

Panasia's center, Saut Lambok Jonson, remained cool after the tension broke out.

"If Panasia wants to quit the league, I will comply with the decision. It's my club anyway. I think the referees must have learned something from this incident," he said.

Setia Dharma Madjid, the game's supervisor, said he agreed with Hadi's decision.

"The referee claimed he made an error. The ball was out after the 30 seconds regulation so he can't give the ball to any party. He should decide on a jump ball. But Panasia refused to continue and we waited for five minutes, so Mahaka was declared the winner," he said.

"Anyway, a supervisor can't interfere with the referee's decision," he said.

SM team manager Erick Thohir regretted Panasia's decision.

"When I started my job as a team manager with the basketball club, I wanted my team to be like Panasia. It is a great team, with a good management, good players and a good manager."

SM's top center Fictor G. Roring shared his manager's view. "We all know that Kobatama referees still have many weaknesses, but how can a team like Panasia can be affected by the referee's decision?"

The Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi) official in charge of Kobatama, Doedi Gambiro, expressed hope that Panasia would change its mind and show up for the third and fourth rank game. (ivy)