HÀ NỘI — The Cantho Catfish became the champions of the Việt Nam Basketball Association (VBA) 2018 regular season after beating the Danang Dragons at Cần Thơ Gymnasium on Tuesday.

The Mekong Delta team continually overwhelmed the Danang Dragons from the first quarter.

The pair of Sang Đinh and Lê Hiếu Thành contributed six three-point shootings to the Mekong Delta team, raising the score to 31-18.

The central province team did not surrender easily as “the twin towers” Zach Allmon and Chris Dierker narrowed the gap to 44-54 as second round ended.

As the third round started, brothers Tâm Đinh and Sang Đinh helped the Catfish widen the gap to 77-55.  

Though trying their best in the last minutes, the Dragons team came up with no surprises and the Catfish won 90-77.

Dierker scored 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Allmon earned 31 points and 23 rebounds for the Dragons.

The Catfish set three new season records: best team of the regular season (they won 13 matches and lost two) and most three-pointers scored in a quarter and in a match.

Tâm scored 24 points and eight rebounds. MVP Sang poured in 20 points and six rebounds; DeAngelo Hamilton gave 10 points, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks and Thành gave 14 points to the Catfish.

Cantho Catfish received an honourary cup before entering the playoffs. The Danang Dragons will meet Hanoi Buffaloes on August 16 before finishing their season. 

In another match, Saigon Heat defeated Thang Long Warriors 84-83 at Hà Nội National University of Education Gymnasium.

Lân’s buzzer-beater helped the Saigon Heat even the score 26-26 as round one ended.

Yet, the Heat played even better in the fourth round and shortened the gap to 63-68.

But Hoàng Trung could not help the Warriors get more points and they lost 83-84.

Saigon Heat earned their third rank and will face their next opponent after the battle between the Dragons and the Buffaloes ends. — VNS