Underdogs Dwidasa stuns Panasia
JAKARTA (JP): Thirty-two-year old Bintoro scored 28 points for his club Dwidasa Mitra of Jakarta shocking Panasia Indosyntec of Bandung 72-67 in the fifth day of the third leg of 2001 Nuvo Kobatama national basketball league on Monday.
However, Dwidasa is still facing relegation for finishing bottom in the 10-team event. The second match saw newly promoted Angsapura Sania of Medan, North Sumatra, crush Bima Sakti Nikko Steel of Malang, East Java, 69-62.
Panasia remains in third position and should win three more games to secure a ticket to the final four. Defending champion Aspac Texmaco of Jakarta still tops the standing followed by Bhinneka Sritex of Surakarta, which outclassed home team Indonesia Muda (IM) 70-63 later on Sunday.
The 1999 champion, Satria Muda, is fourth and was still playing its third game against Bali Jeff Citra Satria Pelita (CSP) as of going to press.
Panasia took an early lead 19-13 by the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Bintoro managed to score 10 points to narrow the gap 32-28.
Bintoro proved his worth by boosting the team with nine points in the third quarter to take over 51-50. Former IM player Patrick A. Gosal contributed six points after he successfully scored three-pointers twice.
Both teams trailed neck-to-neck in the last quarter. Panasia's Johannis Winar's throw helped the team lead 55-52 but 26 seconds later Bintoro cut it back to 55-54.
The game become more tense when Dwidasa earned more points to lead 59-57 in the remaining four minutes.
Substitute Benny Santoso successfully executed a free throw to bring Dwidasa to lead 60-59 but Panasia led again after Kiki Susilo's throw made it 61-60.
After several rebounds, Dwidasa led Panasia 66-64 less than one minute before the final buzzer.
At the critical moment, Johannis failed to produce a three- pointer and the team made some fouls. Dwidasa benefited from this occasion and Patrick fulfilled his job very well to earn four points from free throws.
In the last eight seconds, Johannis increased two points from Panasia but failed to repeat it in the last second. The team was fouled and Benny calmly threw the basket to end the game 72-67.
Dwidasa manager Indrawan Waskito said he was surprised with the result.
"We earlier aimed to win each game if we could. But after two series, we only aimed at winning two or three games to avoid relegation," he said.
Dwidasa lost to Bhinneka in the opening match last Thursday but bounced back to beat Wismilak Cahaya Lestari Surabaya on Saturday and Panasia.
Panasia coach Herru Juharso admitted his players were under form, "In a very tight game, Panasia players might easily lose their concentration and control over the game. I think they have a mental burden because the team is the favorite." (ivy)