The technical meeting and group draw for the Ho Chi Minh City leg of the VnExpress Youth Basketball Tournament - Ziaja Cup 2026 took place on the morning of 27/3 at the VnExpress newsroom. Representatives from 24 local high school teams attended the event.

Following its successful Hanoi leg in December 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City tournament attracted nearly 50 registrations. The organizing committee selected 24 teams for the group stage: 16 boys' teams and 8 girls' teams, based on application quality and registration timing.

Teams draw for their groups. Photo: Nguyen Lam.

The boys' category features 16 teams divided into 4 groups, playing a single round-robin to determine the top two teams from each group, who will then advance to the quarterfinals. The girls' category has 8 teams split into 2 groups, with the top two from each group progressing to the semifinals. The Ho Chi Minh City boys' and girls' champions will challenge their Hanoi counterparts – Vinschool The Harmony (boys) and Phan Dinh Phung (girls) – in the Super Cup.

The draw has set up competitive groups. In the boys' category, Group A includes Nguyen Khuyen High School and Tri Duc High School, both notable teams from last season. For the girls' category, Group E promises intense competition among Le Quy Don High School, Nguyen Khuyen High School, Vinschool Central Park High School, and Hoang Hoa Tham High School.

Previous tournaments indicate an advantage for experienced teams in adaptability. However, new teams could deliver major upsets in the group stage.

Speaking at the event, Ngo Manh Cuong, General Director of FPT Online Company and a representative of the organizing committee, stated the tournament aims to provide a healthy platform and encourage physical activity among students, especially given the increasing time young people spend in digital environments. This event also offers young athletes opportunities to connect, develop skills, and achieve comprehensive growth.

Pham Phu Thu High School boys' team enters Group D. Photo: Nguyen Lam.

The organizing committee also hopes the tournament will discover potential talents who might pursue professional or semi-professional basketball careers.

The VnExpress Youth Basketball Tournament - Ziaja Cup was previously held in Ho Chi Minh City last May, but as a two-region friendly. This year marks the first time the tournament offers a dedicated platform for Ho Chi Minh City high school students, while maintaining the Super Cup format. Last year, Hanoi teams, Marie Curie (boys) and Phan Dinh Phung (girls), claimed victories despite playing away.

This year's tournament will also introduce its first Media Day on 4/4 and 5/4. This activity allows teams to build their pre-tournament image through introductory photos and videos, supporting their competition profiles and media activities. This concept was successfully implemented during the Hanoi leg last November and received positive feedback.

The VnExpress Youth Basketball Tournament - Ziaja Cup 2026 is organized by VnExpress and FPT Online Joint Stock Company, with support from the Ziaja brand and professional guidance from the Vietnam Basketball Federation. The tournament seeks to create more competitive opportunities for students aged 14-18 and promote school basketball.

Hoang Dan