Nha Trang Dolphins have first home win in season 2025

Nha Trang Dolphins received runners-up of season 2024 Cantho Catfish at Khanh Hoa Provincial Sports Arena (33 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Nha Trang City) on May 29 night and had their first home win in VBA Star X 2025.

Nha Trang Dolphins playing Cantho Catfish

After 1 year applying one-place format in Ho Chi Minh City, this year’s VBA returns to home-and-away format. Nha Trang Dolphins chose the Provincial Sports Arena as their new home ground in place of the multi-functional sports arena of Nha Trang University as they did in the previous seasons. The new ground makes it more convenient for people loving basketball in general and other professional basketball teams to come and see the games.

Both Nha Trang Dolphins and Cantho Catfish won their season openers, overcoming Ho Chi Minh City Wings; therefore, both of them are likely to enter the upcoming clash in high spirits.  The visitors Cantho Catfish haven been relatively high rated with one championship (2018) and three runner-up finishes (2017, 2019, 2024). Meanwhile, the hosts Nha Trang Dolphins have just gained some successes in recent years with second place in 2023 and third place in 2024. In addition, Cantho Catfish won 3 out of 4 most recent 4 clashes.

In their clash on May 29, both Nha Trang Dolphins and Cantho Catfish fielded their strongest lineups, including their quality foreign players. However, capitalizing on home advantage, Nha Trang Dolphins launched an aggressive offensive from the very first minutes, forcing the visitors into a defensive stance. Throughout all four quarters, Nha Trang Dolphins maintained control, led by the dominant performance of center John Fields and a dynamic performance of Jaylyn Richardson and Nguyen Phuc Vinh. Their relentless pressure paid off as they held off Cantho Catfish and secured a 81-77 victory.

Statistics showed Nha Trang Dolphins’ dominance with shooting rate of 63% and 45 rebounds, both notably in comparison to 51% and 37 respectively of Cantho Catfish. Nha Trang Dolphins players scoring many points included John Fields, Jaylyn Richardson (25 points), Nguyen Phuc Vinh (12 points), Huynh Vinh Quang (8 points). John Fields was named player of the game with 28 points and 18 rebounds.

Anchoring the paint was John Fields, whose energy and presence created matchup problems all night. Beyond the arc, the Dolphins applied further pressure with a well-balanced performance from Jaylyn Richardson (25 points), Nguyễn Phúc Vinh (12 points), and Huỳnh Vĩnh Quang (8 points). Fields’ commanding 28-point, 18-rebound game earned him well-deserved MVP honors.

AN NHIEN
Translated by H.N