Nha Trang Dolphins win their opening match at VBA Star X 2025

Nha Trang Dolphins had a smooth start at VBA Star X 2025 with a win against the home team Ho Chi Minh City Wings with a score of 123-77.

VBA Star X 2025 marks the 10th edition of Vietnam’s professional basketball tournament with more professional method of organization and better quality.  This season marks the return of the home-and-away format, featuring 6 domestic professional teams namely Hanoi Buffaloes, Danang Dragons, Nha Trang Dolphins, Ho Chi Minh City Wings, Saigon Heat, Cantho Catfish, and V Islanders from Philippines.

Match between Nha Trang Dolphins and Ho Chi Minh City Wings

The first matches in group stage have been taking place in Ho Chi Minh City. Reigning champions Saigon Heat have asserted their dominance with two consecutive wins, one at home and one away, against visiting team V Islanders at the scores of 114-91 and 86-48 respectively. Meanwhile, defending runners-up Cantho Catfish also secured a win in their opening match against Ho Chi Minh City Wings with a score of 123-105. Nha Trang Dolphins, co-third place finishers in the 2024 season, lived up to their supporters’ expectations with a resounding 123-77 away win against Ho Chi Minh City Wings. This was also the highest score that Nha Trang Dolphins have secured in a single league match.

In preparation for VBA Star X 2025, Nha Trang Dolphins have strengthened their lineup, which has been highly rated by experts. Notably, Coach Todd Purves, who was voted as the best coach at VBA 2016 and 2022, returned to Nha Trang Dolphins this season. Besides excellent domestic players, who have played for the team for a long time such as Huynh Vinh Quang, Son Minh Tam, Nguyen Phuc Vinh, Vo Huy Hoan, and Hua Ky Anh, Nha Trang Dolphins recruited 3 quality foreign players including: Jaylyn Richardson, John Fields, Munkhtur Khurel Togoo.

In their opening match, Nha Trang Dolphins showcased a cohesive, disciplined and effective playing style, overwhelming Ho Chi Minh City Wings across all statistical categories, for example inside line finishing (70% compared to 57%), rebounds (58 to 35), and assists (40 to 16). In addition to their key players, Nha Trang Dolphins saw three other players scoring over 10 points, including Nguyen Phuc Vinh (12 points), Vo Huy Hoan (11 points), and Nguyen Thanh Dat (10 points). Nha Trang Dolphins' speedy defender, Jaylyn Richardson, was the player of the match with 29 points and 7 assists.

After the opening match, Nha Trang Dolphins will continue to play an away match in Ho Chi Minh City against defending champions Saigon Heat, and then play their first home match against Cantho Catfish at Khanh Hoa sports arena, 33 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Nha Trang City, scheduled to take place from May 29 to 31.

An Nhien
Translated by H.N