National 3x3 U23 basketball tournament decides four semifinalists
Sunday, December 12, 2021, 21:47 GMT+7
The 2021 National 3x3 U23 Basketball Championship selected four best candidates from the ten men's teams competing in the group stage for the semifinals, promising many unexpected results.
Ho Chi Minh City 1
Despite being in Group A, which included many strong opponents, such as Air Defense - Air Force 1, XSKT Hau Giang 1, and Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City 1 still finished as the winner of the group after four wins, two of which were knockout victories as their players scored 21 points before time ran out.
This remarkable achievement of Ho Chi Minh City 1 was attributed to two shooting guards competing in the VBA professional basketball tournament -- Antony Sundberg and Bui Anh Khoa.
Sundberg is a young star of Saigon Heat who holds the record of scoring three-pointers at the series of experimental matches of the VBA Premier Bubble Games 2021 while Khoa has made his name at Ho Chi Minh City Wings.
With their strength, Ho Chi Minh City 1 was the leading candidate for the championship and was scheduled to meet the runner-up of Group B - Air Defense - Air Force 2 - in the semifinals.
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| XSKT Hau Giang 1 players at the 2021 National 3x3 U23 Basketball Championship. Photo: VBA |
XSKT Hau Giang 1
XSKT Hau Giang 1 was rated as the strongest candidate for the championship due to the lineup of players competing in the VBA, including three national team players - Nguyen Anh Kiet, Nguyen Huynh Phu Vinh, and Huynh Thanh Tam.
Besides, Phu Vinh and Kim Ban both helped Soc Trang become the champion in 2019.
But in the group stage, XSKT Hau Giang 1 suffered an unexpected defeat against Ho Chi Minh City 1 and was ranked second in Group A.
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| Group B teams' players compete at the 2021 National 3x3 U23 Basketball Championship. Photo: VBA |
Hanoi 1
With two young players from the VBA - Nguyen Van Vinh and Tran Minh Hieu, Hanoi 1 showcased very good defense and long throws.
The high quality in both attack and defense helped Hanoi 1 secure three victories and take the first place in Group B, which contained Binh Thuan, Hau Giang 2, Ho Chi Minh City 2 and Air Defense - Air Force 2.
The group winner, Hanoi 1 was poised to face a great challenge from Group A runner-up XSKT Hau Giang 1 in the semifinals.
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| Air Defense - Air Force 2's Nguyen Tuan Anh competes at the 2021 National 3x3 U23 Basketball Championship. Photo: VBA |
Air Defense - Air Force 2
Air Defense - Air Force 2 winning a slot in the semifinals was one of the surprises at the 2021 National 3x3 U23 Basketball Championship.
While Vu Viet Hoang and Nguyen Tuan Anh, two young players competing in the VBA of Air Defense - Air Force 2, have yet to show much ability in the professional playground due to limited playing time, they have left a lot of impressions in this 3x3 tournament.
In the semifinals, Air Defense - Air Force 2's opponent was Ho Chi Minh City 1, a very strong side.
It can be described as a miracle for Air Defense - Air Force 2 if they defeat the Ho Chi Minh City-based representative to advance to the final.
2021 National 3x3 U23 Basketball Championship
The 2021 National 3x3 U23 Basketball Championship took place from December 10 to 12, 2021 in Nha Trang City with the competition of ten men’s teams, who were divided into two groups, and four women’s teams.
After the first two days, the tournament found the best four men’s teams from the two groups for the semifinals, namely Ho Chi Minh City 1, Air Defense - Air Force 2, Hanoi 1 and XSKT Hau Giang 1.
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