HÀ NỘI — The Thang Long Warriors took a dramatic, last-gasp 63-62 victory over city rivals Hanoi Buffaloes in the Việt Nam Basketball Association (VBA) League on Tuesday.

With the game tied at 62 apiece in the dying seconds the Warriors’ Tô Quang Trung drove hard to the hoop and was fouled. He converted one of his two free throws with only three seconds left, leading the visitors to victory at the Hà Nội University of Science and Technology Gymnasium

In the first quarter, however the home side fared the best in a scrappy encounter, leading 19-14 after the opening stanza.

As the second quarter began, the Warriors adjusted and narrowed the gap to 27-24 at the half.

In the third, the intensity ramped up, with a pulsating period punctuated by corner threes from the Warriors’ Jaywuan Hill and Trung to leave the score 44-42.

The fourth was a back and forth, seesaw affair, until Trung stepped up to ice the game.

Thang Long’s first victory this season was largely sdown to the efforts of game MVP Hill, who finished with a double-double with 24 points and 16 rebounds. Justin Young also filled up the stat sheet with 12 points and 11 boards.

For the Buffaloes, Mike Bell scored 18 points and 17 rebounds and Vincent Nguyễn scored 14 points and seven rebounds, but the early exit of Công (nine points) due to fouling out proved costly for the team.

In the next match, Thăng Long Warriors will face Saigon Heat at home on June 30, while the Buffaloes’ next rival will be Danang Dragons on July 5, again at the Hà Nội University of Science and Technology Gymnasium. — VNS