Surabaya fans in for a basketball treat

Indra Harsaputra and ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

Four leading teams are here for the two-day Surabaya stop of the A Mild Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) 2005, which began on Wednesday evening at Kertajaya Sports Hall.

Aspac Jakarta, Bhinneka Sritex Solo, CLS Good Day and Avian Bima Sakti are in town. "All of the Surabaya games are 'big' ones, especially the grudge match between Aspac and Bhineka," said IBL director Agus A. Amuro.

Aspac, strengthened by the presence of national team players, is out to take back its crown from its closest rival.

Hometown team CLS Good Day is without its leading forward Charlly Affandi.

Charlly, the most consistent player during the first series of games in Surakarta on 9-13 March, suffered a knee injury in training last week.

CLS Good Day coach Felix Bendatu said the team was still in with a good chance to gain points in its games during the Surabaya stint.

Charlly has been replaced by Alexander and Mulyadi, who will take turns on court.

Felix admitted that the team had yet to reach its optimal performance, including new center Agustinus Indrajaya, who replaced Aspac recruit Hari Sudarsono.

The Aspac-Bhineka match was ongoing at press time.