Vincent Nguyễn helped the Ho Chi Minh City WIngs to get a crucial win against the Thang Long Warriors in a tense match. — Photo courtesy of VBA

HCM CITY — The Ho Chi Minh City Wings defeated the Thang Long Warriors with a score of 95-89 on Sunday (August 13) in District 7, HCM City.

This was an unexpected result as the Warriors were the favoured team before the match.

Before the game, the Warriors needed one more win to clinch a playoff spot, while the City Wings needed a win to keep their hopes of chasing the Nha Trang Dolphins in fourth place.

The City Wings were the team that started the match better. After more than five minutes, the home team led with a score of 15-10.

Warriors big man John Fields got into foul trouble when he committed two personal fouls. Coach Chris Daleo was forced to make a substitution so that Fields would not foul out.

Without Fields, the City Wings players took advantage of the opportunity to score in the low post area.

The City Wings led with the score 24-21 after the first quarter. 

The City Wings players continued to show impressive form and played well into the second quarter. The host led 51-40 before the break. 

The Warriors came back strong in the third quarter. They shortened the lead to 55-52 after five minutes of the third quarter. 

In this quarter, Yevgen Sakhniuk of the City Wings committed his fourth personal foul and had to be substituted. The home team's defence was weakened without Sakhniuk. 

Justin Young of the Warriors scored eight consecutive points to help the guests take a 65-64 lead before the last quarter.

The host had a chance to win the game with a 10-point lead as Sakhniuk returned to the game and got many rebounds. 

However, Warriors' shooters like Trương Hoàng Trung, Lê Hiếu Thành, and Sameen Swint continuously scored from three-point range to help the Warriors equalise the score 81-81.

Lê Hiếu Thành once again became the hero, when he made three-pointer to equalise the score in the last minute.

Both teams played neck to neck in the overtime. 

The City Wings' captain, Vincent Nguyễn, made a three-point shot to help the host take back the lead.

In the last minutes, young players of the City Wings made free throws line, and the home team finished the game ahead by a score of 95-89.

Vincent Nguyễn received the title of Player of the Game with 20 points, 4 assists and a three-point shooting efficiency of more than 50 per cent (4/7). — VNS