Nguyễn Huỳnh Phú Vinh of Saigon Heat jumps to score during their VBA match agains Danang Dragons on Sunday. the Heat win 70-62. Photo vba.vn

HÀ NỘI — Saigon Heat ended hosts Danang Dragons’ Việt Nam Basketball Association playoff hopes after beating them 70-62 at the Military Zone 5 Gymnasium on Sunday.

Despite playing on away ground, the Heat set the pace of the match with Tim Waale, Võ Kim Bản and Tavarion Nix scoring 18 points quickly to secure a 25-14 first quarter lead.

Coach Phan Thanh Cảnh of the Dragons made changes in the second quarter, and they paid off, as Anthony January and Horace Nguyễn poured in a combined 17 points to help the hosts narrow the score to 34-40.

The home team's comeback hopes were short-lived as the Heat flexed their muscles in the third period, led by Bản, Richard Nguyễn and Triệu Hán Minh, ending the period on top 58-50.

The final quarter saw both a frenzied effort to stay in the game by the Dragons, but time ran out on their season as the score ended 70-62.

The Heat advance to the playoffs together with Thang Long Warriors, who beat the Cantho Catfish 75-69 on Saturday.

In the last round of the regular season, Saigon Heat will meet Danang Dragons again at the CIS Area in HCM City on August 18. Earlier, the Warriors will face the Catfish on August 13 at the Tây Hồ District Gymnasium and Hanoi Buffaloes, who are also out of the tournament, will host Wings by Jetstar at the Hà Nội’s Bách Khoa Gymnasium four days later. — VNS