The BAT's objective is to make Thailand the leading basketball nation in the region and help the national men's team win the gold medal at the SEA Games for the first time.

Prasert Srisueb, senior editor of The Nation's sister paper, the Thai-language Kom Chad Luek, said NMG wants to generate interest in basketball.

"We want more and more Thais to play and also watch this beautiful game. When basketball becomes more popular among Thais, the chances of winning the SEA Games title becomes higher," said Prasert.

"The men's team, especially, has never won the SEA Games championship. Their best result was runners-up.

"We hope basketball interests the people as much as volleyball in this country. Our teams have dominated volleyball at the SEA Games," he added.

After the King's Cup, NMG will hold the second Nation Super League and the University League in June.

Meanwhile, Siam Discovery Centre has invited local youngsters to participate in the Discovery Club Super Hero Hoop Jam, a street basketball competition, which is scheduled from May 11-14. The event will be divided into five categories - men's under-15, men's under-19 and opens, and women's under-15 and opens.

Each team needs to have four players and pay Bt2,000 to participate in the tournament. Discovery Club members need to pay only Bt1,000. The deadline for applications is May 7.

Alitta Tangrungruengkit

The Nation