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)