VBA 2023: Nha Trang Dolphins have opportunity to advance to finals

Nha Trang Doplphins earned an advantage in the race for the final round of VBA 2023 after defeating Hanoi Buffaloes 85-61 in their first playoff taking place at the sports arena of Nha Trang University on September 8 night.

This is the first time Nha Trang Dolphins have played in VBA semi-finals since their inception. Some days before the game with Nha Trang Dolphins, Hanoi Buffaloes replaced injured Anthony January by Lenny Daniel. Coach Erik Rashad of Hanoi Buffaloes had added player Tran Minh Hieu, who used to be a tough rivalry of Nha Trang Dolphins’s Dominique Tham in the low post, to the roaster just some hours before the game. However, with his improvement in skills, Dominique Tham, who is 1.95m tall, and Madarious Gibbs, who performed excellent passes, helped the hosts Nha Trang Dolphins had a smooth first set of 25-17.

Nha Trang spectators enthusiastically cheer for Nha Trang Dolphins

In the second set, while newcomer of Hanoi Buffaloes was trying to keep up with the rhythm of the competition, the players of Nha Trang Dolphins continually scored points and ended the set with a difference of 14 points, 44-30. The third set saw an energetic performance of young talent Nguyen Huy Hoang of the visitors Hanoi Buffaloes and improvement in playing of Lenny Daniel. However, the excellent competence of Madarious Gibbs, who won VBA 2022 with Saigon Heat, made many excellent attacks and assists to put Nha Trang Dolphins 66-43 ahead after the third set. With a huge gap of points between the two sides, the changes of coach Erik Rashad in the fourth set couldn’t help Hanoi Buffaloes turn the situation around. Finally, Nha Trang Dolphins claimed the victory with the score of 85-61. 

Powerful Madarious Gibbs causes difficulties for Hanoi Buffaloes defenders

With 18 points, 10 assists and 3 steals, Madarious Gibbs Nha Trang Dolphins was named layer of the Game. Dominique Tham scored 26 points; Robert Sampson had 21 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocks. Newcomer Lenny Daniel of Hanoi Buffaloes scored 19 points. Udun Osakue, who played excellently in the group stage, had a poor performance with 7 points and throwing efficiency 20%.

Semi-final between Nha Trang Dolphins and Hanoi Buffaloes

With this win, Nha Trang Dolphins extended their unbeaten run at home to 8 games. With the best-of-three format of the semi-finals, another win will see Nha Trang Dolphins, the last established team of VBA, progressing to the final round for the first time

An Nhien
Translated by H.N