Vietnamese basketball on the rise

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam: Thanks to Saigon Heat co-owner Connor Nguyen, the sport of basketball is gaining popularity in Vietnam. Just last year, Nguyen’s Saigon Sports Academy launched the first ever inter-collegiate basketball tournament in Vietnam, which was participated by over 60 schools all over the country. For a first-timer, having this many participants is clearly phenomenal. And to think that basketball only started to get noticed upon the formation of the Saigon Heat in 2011.

Vietnam, like most nations, is crazy about football. Basketball wasn’t even close. But today, Saigon Heat’s home games have become the most attended in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL). Fortunately for the home crowd, parking at the Canadian International School Arena, the Heat’s new home court, isn’t a big problem as most residentsof the city use motorbikes. Man, I’ve never seen so many motorcycles on the road than in this city of Ho Chi Minh, which was formerly known as Saigon. Anyway, the Saigon Heat team brought new excitement to the people of Vietnam, especially that their country is represented in an international tournament that enjoys television coverage in Southeast Asia.