Another winning game for the Buffaloes to keep their first spot of the table. Photo courtesy of VBA

Xuân Đăng

HÀ NỘI — Demonstrating dominance in every aspect, the Hanoi Buffaloes continued their unbeaten run with a comfortable 94-73 victory over the V Islanders, further consolidating their position at the top of the standings.

The win marked the Buffaloes’ third consecutive triumph over the guest team from the Philippines in the group stage, reinforcing their flawless 6-0 record after five weeks of competition. In contrast, the Islanders remain winless at the bottom of the table with six defeats.

The home team entered the match at a clear disadvantage, missing two key players — Garciano Puerto and Raymond Matias — due to suspensions stemming from unsportsmanlike conduct in a previous game.

In the opening quarter, head coach Matt Van Pelt made a tactical adjustment by starting sharpshooter Jimmy Nguyễn, while the Islanders’ coach Erwin Tangunan handed Algin Andaya his first start. Despite early momentum from French centre Alioune Tew, the visitors stayed even at 17-17, largely thanks to three-pointers from reserve guard Tô Ngọc Khánh.

In the second quarter, the Buffaloes fielded all seven of their bench players. Their youthful energy translated into aggressive steals and rapid counterattacks. Contributions from Trần Phi Hoàng Long, Phan Trọng Tài, and Caleb Nguyễn helped the visiting side build an 18-point lead, closing the half at 47-29.

During the third quarter, the Hanoi Buffaloes continued to rotate their lineup, balancing playing time between starters and substitutes. Meanwhile, the Islanders found some rhythm through coordinated plays between Jermale Jones and Tew, along with determined efforts from Andaya. This reduced the deficit to 12 points, with the score at 70-58.

The home team made a final push early in the fourth quarter, seeking to narrow the gap. However, a timeout called by coach Van Pelt shifted the momentum. He reintroduced Tamyrik Fields, whose presence revitalised the Buffaloes’ defence and offence. The 2.06m centre surprised the crowd with three consecutive three-pointers, helping his team surge to a 20-point advantage at 92-72. From there, they closed the game out with ease.

Fields earned Player of the Game honours with a standout performance: 30 points, 11 rebounds, and a perfect 5-for-5 record from beyond the arc. “I surprised myself with my shooting tonight,” said Fields. “But this win was really the result of the team’s intense preparation. We’re not yet at full strength — I believe the Buffaloes will be even better once DaQuan Bracey joins us.”

All 12 players brought by the Hanoi Buffaloes to the Hà Nội Youth Palace B court saw playing time and contributed to the scoreboard — a testament to the squad’s unity and depth. On the other end, the home team continued to show signs of improvement through the consistent efforts of their key trio: Jones (15 points), Tew (17 points), and Andaya (14 points).

The final outcome leaves both teams’ positions in the standings unchanged. The Buffaloes remain on top with six wins, while the Islanders sit in sixth with six straight losses. VNS