Viet Nam's SaiGon Heat lost to defending champions Chang Thailand Slammers 58-78 in the first round of the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League Champions on Sunday in Thailand.

The Heat includes four international imports, John Smith, Sophoeum Oeun, Jonathan Jones and Julius Hodge, and leading local player Trieu Han Minh.

Hodge became the lead scorer in the game with an incredible 37 points with 10 rebounds, contributing more than half of the team's total points.

The team will compete against the Singapore Slingers at Tan Binh Gymnasium on January 25.

This is the first time SaiGon Heat has taken part in this tournament. The league, the region's first professional league of any sport, attracts eight teams from six countries including Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. — VNS