Saigon Heat extends VBA championship streak
Thursday, December 14, 2023, 11:03 GMT+7
The Saigon Heat secured their fourth consecutive VBA championship by defeating the Nha Trang Dolphins 3-1 in the final match of the championship series, securing their fourth straight title and solidifying their place in Vietnamese basketball history.
The hero of the match was Du Minh An, whose overtime field goal locked in a victory for the Saigon Heat.
“I practiced that shot and finishing move many times during training,” An said.
“I was happy to score the game-winning point.
"It was probably the best shot of my career.”
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| Du Minh An (R) guards foreign player Madarious Gibbs. Photo: VBA |
The Saigon Heat, led by coach Matt Van Pelt, topped the finals' group stage with a 14-4 record thanks to outstanding play from a squad of experienced local players, Vietnamese-American Hassan Thomas, and American Kentrell Barkley.
In the semifinals, the Saigon Heat knocked out Hanoi-based Thang Long Warriors after finishing the series 2-0.
In the finale, they faced the Nha Trang Dolphins – a solid squad making the inaugural final appearance.
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| Saigon Heat locks in the championship after a long season. Photo: VBA |
Kentrell Barkley, the only foreign player for the Saigon Heat and the tournament’s standout, was named the MVP in the VBA Finals 2023.
Barkley, a 1.98-meter-tall forward, set a league scoring record of 51 in a match and achieved five triple-doubles.
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| Saigon Heat lifts the VBA 2023 championship trophy. Photo: VBA |
Excited about bagging another championship, Barkley said his team had put in a lot of effort and had every intention of bringing home a victory in the finals.
He also attributed the success to the team's fans, players, and coaching staff.
The VBA 2023, which commenced on June 10, concluded after more than three months of competition, featuring 71 dramatic and exciting matches spanning the group stage, semifinals, and finals.
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