The Saigon Heat, who just secured their fourth consecutive championship, mirrored their season’s success at the VBA Awards 2023 closing ceremony.

The VBA Awards 2023, a ceremony held to honor players and coaches from the 2023 season, recognized outstanding individuals in 12 categories. 

Notably, Saigon Heat players clinched half of the awards, including prestigious categories voted on by the professional advisory board.

Foreign player Kentrell Barkley of the Saigon Heat, the season’s standout superstar, brought home the titles of Most Valuable Player, Dunk of the Year, and Basket of the Year. 

The Saigon Heat’s 2.03-meter-tall center Nguyen Huynh Phu Vinh earned the title of Local Player of the Year, while explosive guard Vo Kim Ban received the Favorite Player of the Year award.

The Coach of the Year award went to the Saigon Heat’s Matt Van Pelt, the only coach to secure two consecutive VBA championships. 

In other categories, the Nha Trang Dolphins won four awards, with Dominique Tham earning Heritage Player of the Year and Madarious Gibbs claiming Block of the Year. 

Impressively, two other Nha Trang Dolphins players, Nguyen Hoang Phuc and Son Minh Tam, were named Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year, respectively.

In total, champions Saigon Heat and runners-up Nha Trang Dolphins claimed 10 out of the 12 awards at the event. 

The remaining two prizes, Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player, were awarded to John Fields of the Thang Long Warriors and Tran Van Trung of the Ho Chi Minh City Wings, respectively.

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