Basketball

Madarious Gibbs of Saigon Heat (right) and Tyrone Jeffery Stubbs of Hà Nội Buffaloes in the 2022 VBA finals. The 2023 season will begin on June 6 in Hà Nội. — Photo courtesy of VBA

HÀ NỘI — The eighth Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA) season will be back with a new format and changes that promise more exciting games for fans.

The annual tournament will tip off on June 10 in Hà Nội with teams playing more games than previous season after the organisers decided to lengthen the season with a 50 per cent increase of matches.

According to organisers, it is to increase the connectivity and meet the needs of fans.

Seven teams will compete in three games each instead of two previously.

In the qualification round, teams will compete in two stages. The first stage will be in centralised format with 21 matches from June 10-30. They will take in a round robin style at the Cầu Giấy Gymnasium.

Hanoi Buffaloes and Saigon Heat will see each other in the opening match, in what will be a rematch of last year's championship match.

Saigon Heat beat Hanoi Buffaloes 3-0 in all three game-final to lift the trophy. The national first pro basketball club have dominated the tournament since 2019.

The second stage's 42 matches from July 8 to September 3, will be a home-and-away competition.

The Play-off round, which is expected to have six matches, will be from September 7-15, and the Finals, scheduled for five games, will be from September 17-30.

This year, teams are allowed to sign contract with no more than one imported and two heritage players – players born in other countries but with Vietnamese ancestory.

The organisers have also changed rule of homegrown players. U18 athletes are allowed to register to compete at the VBA from the 2023 season instead of U20 previously.

Earlier, the VBA 3x3 Prime tournaments were organised from March 18 to April 2.

In the men's pro category, Hanoi Buffaloes took the title, winning all three stages of the tournament.

The women's crown went to Rohto Saigon Heat while the U20 top place belonged to Hanoi Buffaloes' junior team. — VNS