Perbasi undecided on SEA Games team
JAKARTA (JP): With only five weeks to go till the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam, the Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi) is yet to name its main squad.
Three players, who were eliminated from the team last week, appear likely to be asked to rejoin the training program.
Team manager Danny Kosasih said on Monday the association would recall the players if the 12 members of the team failed to improve their performances within the remaining training period.
"The three players joined the training before. They understood our play and strategy," he said.
The three players -- shooting guard Pek King Dhay, point guard Kiki Susilo and center Hari Suharsono -- were expelled after four days of simulation sessions with top clubs here.
Current hopefuls are two point guards (Ocky Tamtelahitu and Ali Budimansyah), four forwards (Antonius Joko Endratmo, Rommy Chandra, I Made Sudiadyana and Tri Adyatna Adi Loka), two centers (Saut Lambok Johnson and Cokorda Raka Satria Wibawa) and four shooting guards (Hardono Putro, Riko Hantono, I Gde Agus Wahyudi and Johanis Winar).
The players will leave for a tryout in the Philippines on June 30 and will return to Jakarta on July 8.
On Sunday, the SEA Games team -- divided into Red and White teams -- played in a one-day championship which offered Rp 10 million (US$1,500) prize money against top clubs Aspac and Panasia Indosyntec.
The Red team -- comprising Saut, Tri, Sudiadnyana, Agus, Johanis and Ocky -- were narrowly defeated 30-34 by Aspac in their first performance. The White team -- comprising Ali, Joko, Rommy, Cokorda, Hardono and Riko -- beat Panasia 43-27.
Danny said his players had to improve their defense skills and break a psychological barrier of being afraid to lose. He said some players needed to improve their movements on court, particularly when surrounded by their opponents.
"The Red team were facing difficulties in breaking through the Aspac defense. Their offense rebound was also very poor. In the remaining time, we will coach them on breaking the defense zone.
"Most of our players were very tense during the game because they were too afraid to lose. We only played with local teams, and, most of the time, we had equal scores. It's really hard for them to overcome the pressure in difficult situation. We must break that psychological barrier," he said.
Danny still hoped his players could grab a silver in the biennial event, which will take place from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.
"The Philippines are superior to us. Indonesia is still equal with Malaysia and Thailand, so we can beat them," he said. (ivy)