City Wings’ Dư Minh A takes a free throw to seal a 76-71 victory over Saigon Heat in the third HCM City derby of the season at the MLC Arena. — Photo courtesy of VBA

Xuân Đăng

HCM CITY — The Ho Chi Minh City Wings improved their head-to-head record against Saigon Heat to 2-1 after a convincing 76-71 victory at MLC Arena on Friday (August 21).

The third HCM City derby of the season was crucial for both sides, with Saigon Heat looking to secure second place in the playoff race, while the City Wings needed a win to keep alive their hopes of claiming the final playoff spot.

The Heat were without key scorer Jamal Mayali, who had been called up to represent the Palestine national team. To strengthen their squad for the final games of the season, the former champions signed Vietnamese-American player Terry Nguyễn to a 14-day contract.

The hosts also handed Nyang Wek a starting berth, while the City Wings made no changes to their starting line-up.

In the opening quarter, the home team relied heavily on their “twin towers”, Nguyễn Huỳnh Phú Vinh and Nyang Wek, to make up for Mayali's absence.

The City Wings, meanwhile, had several players contributing to the scoring. Led by an impressive performance from Mongolian player Tsenguun Munkh-Ochir, the visitors took a 22-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, experienced star Brandis Raley-Ross worked hard to help Saigon Heat close the gap.

However, the City Wings received a major boost from their bench, with Trần Quang Duy and Nguyễn Tuấn Anh combining for 15 points. Their contributions helped head coach Lê Trần Minh Nghĩa's side maintain a 47-40 advantage at half-time.

Both teams tightened their defence in the third quarter, making scoring increasingly difficult, particularly for Saigon Heat. The hosts made several attacking attempts but struggled to convert them into points.

The City Wings, in contrast, continued to receive valuable scoring contributions from Trần Quang Duy, last season's Best Rookie, and other bench players.

With a more effective attack, the visitors extended their lead to 16 points at 62-46 heading into the final quarter.

The Heat refused to give up and mounted a determined comeback for much of the fourth quarter.

In the final minutes, three consecutive baskets and two free throws, most of them scored by Brandis Raley-Ross, helped the Heat cut the deficit to just five points at 74-69.

The Heat then deliberately committed fouls in an attempt to stop the clock and regain possession. However, the City Wings remained composed, with Dư Minh An showing nerves of steel at the free-throw line to help his side secure a 76-71 victory.

Trần Quang Duy, who made the most of his opportunity off the bench, was named Player of the Game after scoring 14 points. He was perfect from both three-point range, going three-for-three, and the free-throw line, making all three attempts.

“I am very proud that the whole team stayed focused on our common goal. We want to win all our remaining games to improve our chances of reaching the playoffs. I also hope our fans will continue to support the team,” Duy said.

The victory was built on the City Wings' ability to control the game and maintain their lead for most of the contest.

Alongside the team's determination and Duy's outstanding contribution, Dư Minh An also produced several important plays at crucial moments.

For the Heat, Mayali's absence exposed their scoring problems, with head coach Vũ Thế Cang's side struggling to find enough offensive firepower to overturn the deficit.

Following the game, the Heat remained second with an 11-6 record, while the City Wings moved into fourth at 8-9, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

The two teams will meet for the final time in the regular season on Sunday (August 23).

All VBA matches will be broadcast live on FPT Play, the league's exclusive production and broadcasting partner under a five-season agreement running from 2026 to 2030. VNS