Saigon Heat retain VBA championship

Saigon Heat have took the title of the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA) 2020 after beating Thang Long Warriors three games to one in the finals.
Saigon Heat retain VBA championship ảnh 1Saigon Heat is the first team in the history of the VBA to successfully defend the championship. (Photo courtesy of VBA)

Hanoi(VNS/VNA) - Saigon Heat have took the title of the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA) 2020 after beating Thang Long Warriors three games to one in the finals.

The Heat defeated the Warriors 73-54 in the fourth game on December 8 night.

Vo Kim Ban was named MVP of December 8 night's game after finishing with 31 points, including eight three-pointers. He was the only domestic player to be named MVP of a finals game this season.

In the three previous games, MVP honours went to overseas Vietnamese star Christian Juzang and foreign players Robert Crawford and Joshua Keyes.

Ban is one of the young talents of Vietnamese basketball. He is only 20 years old but has played in many big tournaments and played a key role in the Heat's back to back titles.

“In my opinion, Ban is a fearless player. Certainly, he will make fast progress to dedicate himself to Vietnamese basketball,” said Phan Thanh Canh, coach of Da Nang Dragons.

At the 30th Southeast Asian Games last year, Ban won the bronze medal alongside the Vietnamese national team.

Meanwhile, Keyes of the Heat won the MVP award for the season. In game four, Keyes contributed 13 points and 22 rebounds.

The HCM City-based Heat dominated form wire to wire this season, racking up the most wins in the regular season and cruising to the title with only one playoff loss to the Warriors after sweeping the Can Tho Catfish in the first round.

The Heat are the only team to successfully defend a championship in the history of the VBA.

Last year the Heat won the title by beating Can Tho Catfish in the finals./.
VNA

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