Soonthornpong Mawinthorn, Theiw Pai Ngarm's head coach, has had his team preparing hard after leading them in the Kagoshima Basketball Invitation in March in Kagoshima City, Japan.

"We have trained really hard and set our sights on being the champions again in the meet from April 26-March 12 at Siam University and Hua Mark

Indoor Stadium after our three consecutive wins in 1998, 1999 and 2002," said Soonthornpong.

"Hi-Tech remains the barrier for my boys since they were the winners at both last year's King's

Cup and in the Nation Super League. But we still hope to clear them out of the way," the coach added.

Thiew Pai Ngarm's captain and former Thai national team player Chainarong Sunthreepas is confident of victory if his team-mates are in form.

He says they should be able to hit solid teams like Hi-Tech, the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and Bangkok Bank.

"The four favourites have an equal chance of winning since they have many national team players, but it depends on the players' form and luck.

"Everyone in the team hopes to make it to the final," said captain Chainarong.

Thiew Pai Ngarm is in Group A with Hi-Tech, while the PEA and Bangkok Bank are in Group B.

Alitta Tangrungruengkit

The Nation