Huỳnh Vĩnh Quang celebrated after his three points shot. Nha Trang Dolphins won against Saigon Heat with the score 80–70. Photo courtesy of VBA

Xuân Đăng 

NHA TRANG — The Saigon Heat’s bid to defend their VBA title took another blow after a 80–70 loss to the Nha Trang Dolphins, marking their third consecutive defeat for the first time since the 2019 season.

The home side, led by coach Todd Purves, continued their impressive record against the Heat. During his previous stint in 2022, Purves’ Dolphins never lost to the reigning champions, and the trend held steady in this season’s first encounter.

Nha Trang deployed experienced domestic players Huỳnh Vĩnh Quang and Sơn Minh Tâm in the starting line-up, countering the physical presence of the visitors, who promoted Mongolian import Temuulen Chinges to the starting five. This gave the Heat a height advantage, with four of their five starters measuring 1.95m or taller.

In the opening quarter, Nha Trang’s energetic guard Jaylyn Richardson sparked early momentum with contributions on both ends of the court. The Dolphins capitalised on fast breaks and solid defence, but the Heat stayed within reach thanks to four three-pointers from centre Alfred Hollins, closing the quarter behind 27–21.

The second quarter saw the Dolphins go scoreless for nearly four minutes, allowing the Heat to mount a 12–0 run and overturn the deficit to lead 33–27. However, Huỳnh Vĩnh Quang’s playmaking efforts helped the Dolphins stay close, trimming the gap to 44–41 by halftime.

Momentum swung again in the third quarter as the guests struggled offensively. Nha Trang strung together a 9–0 run to regain the lead, with Richardson showcasing his scoring ability with tough finishes and long-range shots.

The Dolphins extended their lead to 13 points, though a series of turnovers allowed the visitors to narrow the margin to 64–59 entering the final period.

In the last quarter, Huỳnh Vĩnh Quang delivered a standout performance reminiscent of his peak form in VBA 2022. The 1.74m guard influenced the game across the court — rebounding, assisting, penetrating and hitting from deep.

His all-round play pushed the Dolphins to a 76–59 lead. The Heat’s offence stalled under pressure, missing key shots in the final minutes and ultimately falling 80-70.

Richardson earned Player of the Game honours with 27 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Speaking post-match, he said: “Our previous loss to Hanoi Buffaloes taught us a lot. This time, we stayed focused and made better adjustments in the second half. We’re not at full strength yet, so I believe there’s even more room for us to grow.”

The Dolphins showed their strength in the second half, dominating rebounds 56–38 and outperforming the visitors in three-point shooting at 37 per cent to 29 per cent. Alongside disciplined team play, the hosts also benefited from Quang’s 19 points, seven assists and five offensive rebounds.

On the other side, Alfred Hollins led the Heat with 25 points. However, the defending champions struggled with efficiency, hitting just 38 per cent from inside the arc (17/44). The absence of key players Tim Waale and Võ Kim Bản also contributed to their decline.

With this result, the Nha Trang Dolphins improved to four wins and one loss, retaining second place. The Saigon Heat, now at three wins and three losses, dropped to fifth. — VNS