Riko vows to win 1999 league title for Aspac

Riko vows to win 1999 league title for Aspac

JAKARTA (JP): Riko Hantono, 19, is hopeful he can help Aspac
win the 1999 A Mild Kobatama national basketball league title.

As one of Aspac's top scorers, Riko has proven that he is a
threat to other top clubs, including defending champion Panasia
Indosyntec and favorites Surakarta-based Bhinneka Sritex and
Mahaka Satria Muda of Jakarta.

Panasia emerged as league champion last year after
overwhelming Aspac 55-45 in the title game, a victory which also
helped Panasia forward Antonius Joko Endratmo secure the 1998
Most Valuable Player award.

Riko, however, looks to bring the title to Aspac this year. He
scored a season-high 33 points against Bhinneka last week in
Kobatama's third series.

That game served to announce his return after recovering from
fatigue following his participation in the 1999 Southeast Asian
Games in Brunei Darussalam in August.

"The most important thing is that my club wins the overall
league title. If I'm voted this year's MVP, I will be grateful,"
he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday after a promotional
appearance for Nike's new line of shoes.

Riko said Aspac must improve its teamwork if it wanted to win
the title. "Sometimes we lose touch with each other during a
game. A player must be able to read what's in his friend's mind
to anticipate their next move.

"We are close to each other on the team, but we can get
nervous because a game involves more pressures than a regular
practice," he said.

Riko has served as a spokesman for Nike's new line of shoes,
the Nike Play Series 100, since August. Women's tennis player
Wynne Prakusya is also a spokeswoman for the shoes, but was
unable to attend the promotional event because she is taking part
in a tournament in Australia.

"The sponsorship may be extended; it depends on the situation.
I can't say what my fee is, it's secret. I receive money and
apparel from the sponsorship deal. Also, I will be invited to the
launch of any new Nike products," he said.

Apart from playing basketball, Riko is a student at the School
of Electrical Engineering at Atma Jaya University, the site of
numerous student protests.

"I rarely join the student rallies. I'm afraid of being shot
because I'm the tallest, and that makes me an easy target," said
the 1.85-meter tall player.

An admirer of retired Chicago Bull legend Michael Jordan and
Aspac teammate A.F. Rinaldo, Riko began playing basketball at the
age of eight.

"My mom played basketball. I just followed in her footsteps,"
said Riko, who joined Aspac in 1994.

He made his professional debut in the 1998 Kobatama season.
The following year, he was selected as a member of the SEA Games
team, which brought home the bronze medal. (ivy)