Da Nang’s U18 male basketball team are competing in the National 5x5 U18 Basketball Championship 2024 taking place from July 16 - 23 at Dak Lak Province’s gymnasium. With careful preparation and strong determination, representatives from the city of Han River are determined to claim the championship.

In preparation for the National 5x5 U18 Basketball Championship 2024, Da Nang team field excellent and young athletes who are trained at the Da Nang Athlete Training and Coaching Centre.

Hosted by the Viet Nam Basketball Federation, the annual national 5x5 U18 Basketball Championship aims to enhance the development of basketball training and competition movements across the country, as well as evaluate the training work of localities and discover new talents for the national team.

This year’s tournament attracts more than 200 athletes from units and localities with strong basketball movements nationwide.

Accordingly, basketball players compete in two events for men and women. In the women's event, there are 4 teams: Ba Ria - Vung Tau Passion, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Duong Lam, Ho Chi Minh City and defending champion Ha Noi. Teams compete in a round-robin format, with ranking points calculated.

Meanwhile, the men's event brings together 8 teams divided into 2 groups, competing in qualifying rounds and selecting the best teams to enter the semi-finals and finals. According to the draw results, Group A includes Ha Noi, Binh Duong - Thai Son Nam, Binh Thuan and Dien Bien Warriors. Meanwhile, Group B has the participation of Da Nang, PKKQ - Peak, Ho Chi Minh City and the host Dak Lak.

At this year's tournament, the Da Nang men's U18 basketball team has 12 players, namely Nguyen Tran Duy Anh, Chau Hoang Viet, Le Huu Huy, Hoang Hai Dang, Nguyen Thanh Quan, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Chu Minh Hoang Anh , Dong Quoc Tri, Nguyen Quoc Trung, A Lang Duc Manh, Le Cong Anh Duc and Tran Huy Nam. These excellent young players are trained at the Da Nang Athlete Training and Coaching Centre. The Da Nang team are led by coach Dam Huy Dai and two assistants Truong Nguyen Quang Ha and Pham Ngoc Minh. Notably, coach Dam Huy Dai is a former national basketball player who has many years of experience in training young basketball players for Da Nang.

According to athlete Nguyen Thanh Nhan from Da Nang, the National 5x5 U18 Basketball Championship is a professionally organised large-scale tournament, providing the good opportunity for the team to interact and rub against strong basketball teams nationwide.

In recent years, the basketball movement has developed strongly in the city. The Da Nang basketball team have gained certain successes at national championships in recent years.

In particular, the Da Nang men's U18 basketball team finished third at the National 5x5 U18 Basketball Championship held in Thua Thien Hue Province in 2023. Previously, the team were crowned the champion in 2022. These achievements created more confidence to coach Dam Huy Dai and his team aiming for the best results at this year's tournament. This, however, requires great efforts from the local team because teams PKKQ - Peak, Ho Chi Minh City and host Dak Lak are all highly appreciated and being candidate for this year’s championship.

Reporting by PHI NONG - Translating by M.DUNG