Cần Thơ Catfish’s Tavarion Nix (No 17) scores a point for his team during a match against HCM City Wings in the first round of the Việt Nam Basketball Association League on August 7. HCM City Wings win 61-53 |
HÀ NỘI — HCM City Wings and Hanoi Buffaloes won their first matches in the Việt Nam Basketball Association (VBA) League.
On Sunday, the Wings defeated Cần Thơ Catfish 61-53, while the Buffaloes started with a bang beating the national first professional squad Saigon Heat 64-56 on their home turf.
The Wings, under Justin Young and Jaywuan Hill, set up their domination almost from the beginning of the match before the Catfish went on from behind to lead 53-52 in the fourth set.
Coach Mika Turunen asked for a time-out for the hosts at the Hồ Xuân Hương Gymnasium. When they got back on court the Wings kept their cool and overturned the situation with nine points in a row to storm to victory.
The Wings will travel to play on Catfish’s home turf tomorrow.
At the Bách Khoa Gymnasium, the Buffaloes created many surprises for their fans, coming from behind to win against Saigon Heat, a member of the ASEAN Basketball League since 2014.
Saigon Heat will visit Đà Nẵng Dragons tomorrow before hosting HCM City Wings three days later at their CIS Arena.
The Buffaloes will welcome Đà Nẵng Dragons on August 14.
The VBA is the first professional league in Việt Nam. In its first season there are five teams who will compete in round robin two leg format, competing from August 6 to November 11. — VNS