JAKARTA (Indonesia) - In a game where Pelita Jaya Basketball needed a response, Agassi Yeshe Goantara delivered.
The Indonesian sharpshooter stepped into the spotlight, pouring in 16 points - including four three-pointers - and handing out four assists in a 95-59 rout of NS Matrix Deers, helping Pelita Jaya close their home stand in the BCL Asia-East on a high note.
We showed the rest of the teams who Pelita Jaya is tonight
It wasn’t just his best game of the season - it was his moment.
“Coach gave me a lot of confidence, putting me in as a starter, putting me as the point guard,” Goantara said. “The way I give that trust back is by playing well like tonight. The way I give the trust back to him is by playing well just as tonight.
"I understand that some games I don't deliver as well as tonight, but I'm always gonna find some way to help the team win. Tonight, maybe by scoring. Some other nights probably by defending, by being the facilitator of the team.
"Just being confident in playing my game. And just be Agassi, and play basketball the right way."
Coming into this game, Goantara had averaged just 5.0 points per contest. He hadn’t made a three-pointer in the tournament. With veteran guard Andakara Prastawa still sidelined, it was clear: someone had to step up.
Coach Johannis Winar had been demanding more from his local players all tournament long—and finally, they answered.
"In practice sometimes, I push them so hard," he said. "I got hard on them. Demanding really high. I want them like this, I want more like this - it's because I want them to succeed. Nothing makes me happier than to see my players execute and play better at a high level. That's why in practice, I'm very demanding.
"Because that's my job to push them consistently and persistently so they can perform at a high level."
It wasn’t just Goantara. Fellow local standout Reggie Mononimbar chipped in 10 points, while the usual heavyweights - James Dickey, KJ McDaniels, and Chris McCullough - handled the rest. But the night belonged to the homegrown heroes.
After a flat performance in a loss to Taoyuan Pauian Pilots just two days earlier, Pelita Jaya responded with energy, confidence, and the ball movement that had been missing. The team tallied 24 assists, hit 13 triples, and completely dictated the pace.
"We showed the rest of the teams who Pelita Jaya is tonight by playing with exceptional ball movement, executing the offense well, and being aggressive on defense," said Goantara.
Team captain Brandon Jawato said it best earlier this week when asked about the team overcoming the absense of Prastawa: "It's important that everybody steps up. It’s a time for them to shine. It’s a matter of how bad you want it."
And in the final game of their Jakarta stretch, Goantara showed how bad he wanted it - and shone the brightest.
With their record now at 3-1, Pelita Jaya will carry confidence - and a renewed sense of identity - into Window 3 in Chinese Taipei. If this performance is any indication, the locals are ready for the next stage.
Agassi says: "We'll be ready, for sure. We know what we're going up against later in Taipei and we know how Bishrelt Metal would want to get revenge on us. We'll be ready.
"We'll play the best brand of basketball of Pelita Jaya."
FIBA