Three clubs fight for 2000 Kobatama spot
Three clubs fight for 2000 Kobatama spot
JAKARTA (JP): Citra Satria Pelita (CSP) and Siliwangi are
scheduled to challenge second division champion Dwidasa Mitra
Guntur for a spot in the Kobatama national basketball league's
main division next year. The relegation matches will take place
from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3.
CSP ended Kobatama's sixth series in a poor performance after
losing to Cahaya Lestari Surabaya 55-58, although it led 34-21 in
the first half. CSP finished fourth in last year's league.
Bandung-based Siliwangi had a heaven-and-earth performance
compared to city mate Panasia Indosyntec, the defending champion.
Siliwangi finished last in the overall standings after it was
outclassed 54-65 (24-41) by Bima Sakti Nikko Steel of Malang,
East Java.
Mitra Guntur of Jakarta crushed Medan-based Angsapura hopes to
play in next year's Kobatama after winning both matches on
Wednesday and Friday evening.
In the overall standings, Panasia's position will be decided
after the match between Mahaka Satria Muda, another home favorite
besides champion Aspac, Indonesia Muda (IM) Texmaco and Bhinneka
Sritex of Surakarta, Central Java.
IM overwhelmed Pacific Bank Swadesi 87-51 (36-34) to secure
the fifth position. IM, which finished third last year, had hoped
to enter the final four but its poor form in the earlier two
series spoiled its ambition.
Meanwhile, after a prolonged discussion, which ended in
voting, seven of the ten clubs approved to have all ten clubs
compete in the Kobatama instead of 11 as proposed earlier.
The seven clubs also agreed that a club which finished bottom
in the overall standings must face relegation and would be
replaced by the winner of the second division.
Doedie Gambiro, the Indonesian Basketball Association
(Perbasi) official in charge of the Kobatama, proposed earlier
that the league would add a newcomer to the Kobatama while the
ninth and tenth finishers would remain in the Kobatama.
His suggestion was warmly received by CSP and Siliwangi, which
refused to join the voting. Aspac also supported the idea
although it voted.
"Seven clubs opposed the proposal, citing the different
players' skills and financial reasons. The matches for the men's
and women's Kobatama will take place from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3. We
hope CSP and Siliwangi maintain their sportsmanship and will show
up for the match," Doedie said. (ivy)