Basketball

Players of University of Transport and Communications training for the NUC Basketball finals. The championship is from November 12-17 in HCM City. Photos of organisers

HÀ NỘI - The finals of the National University Championship basketball tournament will begin on November 12, featuring the 14 strongest student teams nationwide.

The participants overcame nearly 100 rivals to earn their place during three regional qualifiers, held in October in Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng and HCM City.

Eight men's and six women's teams have been divided into two groups, competing in a round-robin format. The two best teams of each group will advance to the semi-finals.

Medals and awards are shown at a press briefing on November 11 in HCM City.

The finals are scheduled for November 17, with a prize of VNĐ50 million (US$2,050) for the title holders.

The second and third-placed sides will receive VNĐ30 million and VNĐ20 million, respectively.

The Most Valued Players will be awarded VNĐ5 million.

Văn Lang University and Hoa Sen University men's sides will open the tournament at the HCM City University of Technology.

The NUC Basketball championship has been organised to follow international standards for the first time. It is free for supporters to attend. 

“The university basketball championship will be an annual tournament,” said Nguyễn Thanh Đề, Ministry of Education and Training’s (MoET) Director of the Department of Physical Education. “It will constantly expand in scale and professionalism and lure more attention year after year.”

"The championship will inspire students to train and compete in basketball, leading to the growth of university clubs. And it will help push the development of the sport in universities nationwide. Students will have opportunities to experience a professional environment; and compete against local pro teams and vie for titles at regional and international competitions," he said.

Team representatives at the NUC Basketball draw on November 11 in HCM City.

A representative of Clear Men, a major sponsor of the tournament, Ngô Tú Linh, said: "We have recognised that school sport in general and school basketball, in particular, have strongly developed recently".

"It has become a passion among young people. This is the reason for urging Clear Men to support the championship. We hope to bring a healthy playing ground for students and hope they can reach international standard in the near future," said Linh at a press briefing on November 11 in HCM City.

The 2022 NUC Basketball is jointly organised by the MoET, Max Sports Entertainment Joint Stock Company and Vietcontent and Trading Joint Stock Company. 

All matches will be live aired on the tournament’s fan page at www.facebook.com/nuc.basketball; the fan page of Bóng rổ TV  at www.facebook.com/bongrotv; and tournament’s Youtube www.youtube.com/channel/UCxOfzcmP4gnkYqB4jD98Fww. VNS