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)