Despite the absence of some key players, Newman College are confident of retaining their title when the Inter-school Basketball Marathon begins at the Harbour Road Sports Centre, Wan Chai, today.
The seven-day tournament has attracted 162 boys' and 81 girls' teams and will be played on a knock-out basis.
Defending champions Newman College have been preparing for the tournament for the past few weeks and have set their sights on winning the championship.
Captain Chan Yiu-cho said his team remained positive despite the loss of key players such as Shum Chung, Lee Kui-fung and Wu Ka-chun, who have all graduated.
'We are actually in pretty good shape. Whether we can win the tournament depends how we handle the games,' said the 19-year-old, who won the Bauhinia Bowl Award in the outstanding basketball player category.
Newman College, spearheaded by guard Oliver Chan Chin-chun and centre Szeto Wai-kit, are in Group A with seeded teams TWGHs Kap Yan Directors' College, HKMA David Li Kwok Po College and CCC Kei Heep Secondary School.
Yiu-cho believes Group B seeds CCC Tam Lee Lai Fun Memorial Secondary School, comprising powerful centre Law Man-kwong, and Group C's Jing Ying champions Jockey Club Ti-I College - led by Jing Ying's most valuable player So Yi-chun - will be their main rivals.
