Despite posting stellar seasons, several exceptional VBA players missed out on nominations at the VBA Awards 2023 ceremony.

The annual VBA Awards recognizes outstanding players in the league’s group stage. 

In total, 12 categories are awarded at the event, with eight decided by an expert panel and the remaining four determined through a 50-percent fan vote and a 50-percent media advisory board vote.

The winners are revealed at an annual ceremony following the culmination of the season.

Notably, young talent Nguyen Anh Kiet was missing from the nomination list for Most Improved Player despite showcasing remarkable growth over the course of the season.

Last year, Kiet played for the Saigon Heat but predominantly stuck to the bench, accumulating a mere 48 minutes of play and an average of just 1.2 points and 0.2 assists per game. 

His move to the Danang Dragons for the 2023 season led him to secure a starting role for the team, participating in 17 out of 18 games, and averaging 8.9 points and 3.1 assists per game.

He increased playing by tenfold, reaching an accumulated 483 minutes, propelling him into an exclusive list of the top three domestic players with the most playing time in 2023.

Despite his accomplishments, he failed to be nominated for the Most Improved Player category.

Meanwhile, the Heritage Player of the Year award failed to acknowledge star player Michael Soy (Nguyen Toan Anh) from the Cantho Catfish, despite Soy having finished the season with 55 successful three-pointers.

Furthermore, Vo Kim Ban and Du Minh An were noticeably absent from the Local Player of the Year nominations. 

Ban demonstrated his prowess as one of the best guards in the tournament by posting the three-pointer success rate with 42.2 percent. 

Meanwhile, guard An, 30, played a crucial role in helping the Saigon Heat successfully defend their championship.

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