Apart from the competition, the highlight of this year's King's Cup will be the exhibition match, which starts at 3pm before the opening ceremony and will feature former players in the national women's team taking on the NMG executives.

Maj Gen Charouck Arirachakaran, the Olympic Committee of Thailand's Deputy Chairman and Secretary General, will be the guest of honour at the opening ceremony before the opening match between reigning champions Hi-Tech and Thiew Pai Ngarm.

The coaches and managers from both team were confident of winning the match.

Hi-Tech team manager Nipondh Chawalitmontien said Thiew Pai Ngarm are ready to play, but many Hi-Tech players are suffering injuries.

"Both teams played neck-and-neck in the Nation Super League. Although, my boys are not fit now, I'm confident they will be able to beat Thiew Pai Ngarm due to my new strategy," said Nipondh.

Meanwhile, Soonthornpong Mawinthorn, Theiw Pai Ngarm's head coach, is convinced his team will defeat Hi-Tech in the first match as his players have been training for a long time.

Before the opening match, Wat Noi Noppakhun Teachers and Parents Association will take on Bangkok University Basketball Club (BU Bas) in the women's division, while the Bangkok Bank team face Chiang Mai.

In the men's division, the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) team play Samut Prakarn.

After the round-robin matches, the top two teams from each group will play in the semi-finals. The winners will then battle for the crown, while the losers will play in the third-place play-off.

Alitta Tangrungruengkit

The Nation