KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian women's basketball team is good for a medal, but not their men's counterparts, in the Phnom Penh Sea Games in May.
At the last Sea Games in Hanoi, the women won bronze and the men returned empty-handed.
The Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand dominated the sport.
And the going will be much tougher for Malaysia this time, with the opponents employing United States-based and naturalised players.
Chef-de-Mission Datuk Nasir Ali and his assistants Datuk Shalin Zulkifli and Sharon Wee visited the men's and women's basketballers at MABA House in Kuala Lumpur today and gave a motivational talk.
National women's team coach Tracy York, who is an Australian, said: "My charges won bronze in the last Games, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to win a medal because most teams now have naturalised players to strengthen their squads.
"Malaysia also tried to secure two naturalised players for the games, but it's not easy to obtain passports and other documents."
Men's coach Lee Kheng Tian said it would be difficult, but not impossible for his team to win a medal.
"We have improved since the last games, but so have the players from other teams. Every match will be a challenge.
"Our target is to reach the semi-finals, and take matters from there," he said.
At the last Sea Games, the women's gold and silver went to the Philippines and Indonesia.
In the men's event, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand finished 1-2-3, respectively.
Indonesia has naturalised players from the US, and many Philippine players ply their trade in NBA-land.