Russian, Iranian teams arrive here for Basketball c'ships

Russian, Iranian teams arrive here for Basketball c'ships

JAKARTA (JP): Russia and Iran became the last teams to arrive
for the fifth Independence Cup basketball championships yesterday
and have less than 24 hours to recover before taking the court
today.

The teams looked exhausted upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta
airport, but their faces were wreathed in smiles. Both tournament
favorites landed at about the same time.

The Russian team appeared willing to talk tactics, but alas
the tournament organizers failed to provide an interpreter for
the non-English speaking Russians.

"We have sweet memories of here," Iranian team manager SH.
Sedigh Poor said at the Wisata International Hotel which is
housing all participating players and officials. Three Iranians:
Said Khani, Omid Validi Pak and Mehran Shahintab played here last
year as their team finished fourth at the Asian Championship.

Russia's other toughest challenge will come from Saudi Arabia
which brought in players who scalped China, the Asian champion,
in the preliminary round match of last year's Asian Championship
here.

The Saudi players will form the backbone of the national team
for the upcoming continent's sporting meet in Hiroshima. They,
however, may face a serious trouble as Ali Sanhani, their three-
point specialist, broke his leg during a recent training session
in the Philippines and will definitely miss the tournament.

Earlier yesterday, the Philippine cagers entered the eight
team-field tournament. The Southeast Asian champion team, made up
of those in amateur league, will serve warning to the favorites.
American Bobby Park is expected to lead its charge.

Other visiting teams the United Arab Emirates and South Korea
have been here since Tuesday. The tournament will start today and
wind up next Tuesday.

Withdrawal

A last minute withdrawal of the West Javanese team mars the
six-day event. The province's official in charge of technical
affairs Surya Darma Majid said yesterday his team, composed of
players from Bandung-based semi-professional club Siliwangi, was
not well-prepared for the international event.

"We will be without our two Russian aces, besides we failed to
win the recent Governor Cup here last month," Surya said. The
Russians who will play for Siliwangi in the semi-professional
league which kicks off in October, are slated to enter the
country on Sept. 1.

Indonesian junior players who are preparing for the Asian
Student Basketball Championship in Seoul in November take West
Java's place. They are grouped with Saudi Arabia, Iran and South
Korea in round-robin matches.

The Jakarta team will lead the local challenge, despite the
doubt it will be a match for its gigantic opponents. Having nine
key players who formed the nucleus of league champion Aspac,
Jakarta will struggle only to avoid finishing at the wooden
spoon.

"We have very limited time to make preparations," the Jakarta
team's training director Ecky Tamtelahitu said. He sorted his
players during the Governor Cup won by Aspac.

Another official also guarded his pessimism that Jakarta would
notch an impressive showing. "This is not our strongest team,"
said Totok Sudarsono, who is also team manager of national
leading club Pelita Jaya.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman will
formally open the tournament this evening. (amd)

Today's fixture

Group A
Jakarta v UAE
Philippines v Russia

Group B
Indonesia junior v Saudi Arabia
Iran v South Korea