RI SEA Games basketball win forecast

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Basketball Association Chairman Harmoko said he was confident that the country's men's team will grab the gold medal at the 19th SEA Games here in October next year.

Harmoko made his point after closing the association's working meeting here and celebrating Indonesia's success in winning the Grand Final of the Second Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) championships in Surabaya, East Java Sunday.

Indonesia won the SEABA championships after defeating the highly regarded Philippines 88-81.

"I will personally give awards to the players for winning the tournament. We will retain this SEABA team for further SEABA championships," Harmoko said.

Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso, Jakarta's military commander was elected association deputy chairman during the meeting. Delegates also agreed to include improving the student basketball league as part of the association's 1997 program.

It was also decided that the national basketball championships are to be held next year in four series with the finals to be staged from Sept. 3 to 6. The first stage is from June 8 to June 14, the second June 29 to July 5, the third July 20 to July 26 and the fourth Aug. 18 to Aug. 24. (lnt)