The accomplished coach of Saigon Heat, drawing from his extensive international experience and achievements in basketball, has undertaken the authorship of a book to share his insights, strategies, and expertise in the sport, providing valuable guidance and knowledge to aspiring athletes, coaches, and enthusiasts alike.

Before starting his coaching career in Vietnam, Matthew Van Pelt had spent nearly ten years traveling and gaining basketball experience as a player in over 25 different countries.

That experience has helped the 32-year-old man garner further accomplishments in the training role in Vietnam.

Over the past two years, Van Pelt has consistently achieved remarkable successes while leading the Vietnamese national basketball squad.

He played a pivotal role in securing the first-ever silver medal in 3x3 basketball for the Vietnamese men’s basketball team at the 31st Southeast Asian Game in 2022.

As a result of this remarkable accomplishment, the coach earned a nomination in the ‘Foreign Expert of the Year’ category at the 2022 Victory Cup.

He also guided the Vietnamese 5x5 basketball team’s participation in the FIBA Asia qualifying round.

Coach Matt Van Pelt (R) and the Vietnamese men’s basketball team win the country’s first-ever silver medal in 3x3 basketball at the 31st Southeast Asian Game in 2022. Photo: VBA

On the club front, Van Pelt led Saigon Heat to victory in the VBA championship last year. 

This year, the coach and his team has been defending their title at the 2023 VBA finals.

Earlier this year, Van Pelt continued to enthuse fans by leading Saigon Heat to their first-ever appearance in the final of the 2023 ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) Invitational.

He documented his experiences and transformed them into an eBook, “Hoopin’ Abroad: How to have a long, successful career playing professional basketball around the globe,” which is available on Amazon.

The Saigon Heat (in yellow) and Nha Trang Dolphins players compete in the 2023 VBA finals. Photo: VBA

“Matthew Van Pelt is a professional basketball coach and recently retired professional basketball player from the United States with experience with the game of basketball in more than 25 countries,” reads his eBook’s introduction on Amazon.

“After spending the last decade bouncing from country to country while abroad, Van Pelt has learned the ins and outs of the international basketball market.”

Before this brainchild came to fruition, Van Pelt had sharpened his writing skills by contributing to a sports blog.

In a remark after his first three years in Vietnam, Van Pelt said that basketball in Vietnam, while relatively young compared to other Southeast Asian countries, has garnered considerable affection and support. 

The sport has demonstrated remarkable progress, exceeding the expectations one might have for any Southeast Asian tournament, according to him.

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