Saigon Heat eye ABL title

Saigon Heat basketball team at a press briefing on November 21 (Photo: nld.com.vn)

Saigon Heat aim to win the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL), said the basketball club at a ceremony to introduce its squad and uniform for the ABL 2017-2018 season on November 21.

To realise the target, the team has hired Kyle Julius as its coach. Julius had three years of experience in Canada’s professional basketball and helped London Lightning become the champion only after one year.

New recruits Akeem Scott and Travele Jones are also expected to boost the team, along with key players David Arnold and Nguyen Tuan Tu.

Formed in 2011, the Saigon Heat are Vietnam’s sole representative in the ABL. The team’s best result was making the tournament’s final four in 2014.

The league features nine teams, including Hong Kong Eastern (Hong Kong, China), Westports Malaysia Dragons (Malaysia), Singapore Slingers (Singapore), Saigon Heat (Vietnam), Alab Pilipinas (the Philippines), Formosa Dreamers (Taiwan, China), Nanhai Long Lions (China), CLS Knights Indonesia (Indonesia) and Moni Vampire Basketball Club (Thailand).

The teams will compete in 20 matches in the regular season, with the top two teams qualifying for the semi-finals. Four teams from third to sixth place will compete in the quarter-finals.

The season began in Manila, the Philippines on November 17, with Saigon Heat set to begin their campaign on December 9.

VNA