VBA Round 9: Can Tho CF defeats leader Saigon Heat

Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Saigon Heat (7-4) at the home court on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by third ranked Can Tho CF (7-5) 90-77. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Saigon Heat. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Can Tho CF forced 21 Saigon Heat turnovers. It was a good game for American power forward DeAngelo Hamilton (203-90, college: WSU) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!), 15 rebounds and 4 assists. Swingman Tam Dinh-Thanh (192-95) contributed with 21 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. American guard Richard Nguyen (, college: Pierce JC) answered with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists for Saigon Heat. Defending champion moved-up to second place, which they share with HCMC W. Saigon Heat at the other side still keeps top position with four games lost. Can Tho CF is looking forward to face Hanoi B. (#5) at home in the next round. Saigon Heat will play against Hanoi B. (#5) and is hoping to win this game.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Can Tho CF (7-5) against fifth ranked Danang D. (4-7) on Thursday night. Visiting Can Tho CF was defeated by Danang D. in a tough game in Danang 74-79. American forward Anthony January (203-93, college: CS San Bernar.) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 20 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and Hung Nguyen-Van chipped in 16 points. The best for the losing side was American power forward DeAngelo Hamilton (203-90, college: WSU) with a double-double by scoring 27 points and 15 rebounds. Despite that victory Danang D. went down to sixth position due to points difference. Defending champion Can Tho CF dropped to the second place with five games lost. They share the position with HCMC W.. Danang D. will play against higher ranked Thang Long W. (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Can Tho CF will play against Hanoi B. and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Bottom-ranked Hanoi B. managed to get the second consecutive victory on Saturday night. This time they won against sixth-ranked Thang Long W. 78-72. Michael Bell nailed a double-double by scoring 26 points, 23 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side. Justin Young came up with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for Thang Long W. in the defeat. Hanoi B. (5-7) moved-up to fourth place, which they share with defeated Thang Long W. Hanoi B. will meet at home league's leader Saigon Heat in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Thang Long W. will play against Danang D. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 9 bottom-ranked Thang Long W. beat Danang D. on the road 83-66.
The most impressive performance of 9th round was 34 points (!!!) and 14 rebounds by Jaywuan Hill of Thang Long W..

Danang D. - Can Tho CF 79-74

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Can Tho CF (7-5) against fifth ranked Danang D. (4-7) on Thursday night. Visiting Can Tho CF was defeated by Danang D. in a tough game in Danang 74-79. American forward Anthony January (203-93, college: CS San Bernar.) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 20 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and swingman Hung Nguyen-Van (187-95) chipped in 16 points. The best for the losing side was American power forward DeAngelo Hamilton (203-90, college: WSU) with a double-double by scoring 27 points and 15 rebounds and swingman Tam Dinh-Thanh (192-95) scored 20 points. Despite that victory Danang D. went down to sixth position due to points difference. Defending champion Can Tho CF dropped to the second place with five games lost. They share the position with HCMC W.. Danang D. will play against higher ranked Thang Long W. (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Can Tho CF will play against Hanoi B. and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Can Tho CF: D.Hamilton 27+15reb+1ast, T.Dinh Thanh 20+4reb+3ast, S.Dinh Thanh 9+4reb+1ast, T.Le Hieu 8+6reb+2ast, P.Hcu 6+5reb+3ast, N.Tu 4+2ast
Danang D.: A.January 26+20reb+4ast, S.Tam 16+3reb+2ast, H.Nguyen Van 16+2reb+3ast, H.Nguyen 9+4reb+4ast, D.Huy Dai 6+2reb+1ast, H.Nguyen Van 4+1reb+1ast

Thang Long W. - Hanoi B. 72-78

Bottom-ranked Hanoi B. managed to get the second consecutive victory on Saturday night. This time they won against sixth-ranked Thang Long W. 78-72. They outrebounded Thang Long W. 54-42 including 41 on the defensive glass. American forward Michael Bell (206-82, college: FAU) nailed a double-double by scoring 26 points, 23 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and forward Cong Dinh-Tien (182-96) accounted for 9 points and 6 rebounds. Naturalized American Justin Young (190, college: Cal Poly Pomona) came up with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists and American power forward Jaywuan Hill (203-89, college: SW Baptist, agency: AgainHello) added 14 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Thang Long W. in the defeat. Four Thang Long W. players scored in double figures. Hanoi B. (5-7) moved-up to fourth place, which they share with defeated Thang Long W. Hanoi B. will meet at home league's leader Saigon Heat in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Thang Long W. will play against Danang D. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Thang Long W.: D.Nguyen Thanh 15+3reb+1ast, H.Dang Thai 14+7reb, J.Young 14+9reb+6ast, J.Hill 14+8reb+2ast, D.Nguyen 6+6reb, D.Quang 6+1reb
Hanoi B.: M.Bell 26+23reb+4ast, N.Hai 12+5reb+1ast, N.Tu Le 9+4reb+1ast, C.Dinh Tien 9+6reb+3ast, T.Doan 8+3reb, N.Tran 7+2reb+1ast

Saigon H. - Can Tho CF 77-90

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Saigon Heat (7-4) at the home court on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by third ranked Can Tho CF (7-5) 90-77. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Saigon Heat. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Can Tho CF forced 21 Saigon Heat turnovers. It was a good game for American power forward DeAngelo Hamilton (203-90, college: WSU) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!), 15 rebounds and 4 assists. Swingman Tam Dinh-Thanh (192-95) contributed with 21 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. American guard Richard Nguyen (, college: Pierce JC) answered with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists and the other American import Nix Tavarion (201-92, college: Midwestern St.) added 16 points and 15 rebounds in the effort for Saigon Heat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Defending champion moved-up to second place, which they share with HCMC W. Saigon Heat at the other side still keeps top position with four games lost. Can Tho CF is looking forward to face Hanoi B. (#5) at home in the next round. Saigon Heat will play against Hanoi B. (#5) and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Saigon H.: R.Nguyen 18+12reb+9ast, A.Du Minh 18+5reb+2ast, N.Tavarion 16+15reb, B.Kim 13+1reb+2ast, V.Nguyen Huynh 6+10reb+2ast, T.Waale 4+3reb
Can Tho CF: D.Hamilton 34+15reb+4ast, T.Dinh Thanh 21+6reb+3ast, H.Nguyen Phu 18+3reb+3ast, S.Dinh Thanh 13+5reb+3ast, T.Le Hieu 2+4reb, K.Huynh 2+1reb

Danang D. - Thang Long W. 66-83

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams when sixth ranked Thang Long W. (5-7) beat on the road bottom-ranked Danang D. (4-7) 83-66 on Tuesday. Thang Long W. forced 20 Danang D. turnovers. American power forward Jaywuan Hill (203-89, college: SW Baptist, agency: AgainHello) nailed a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 14 rebounds for the winning side and the former international Hung Dang-Thai (188-93) accounted for 18 points and 10 rebounds. American forward Anthony January (203-93, college: CS San Bernar.) came up with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 15 rebounds and naturalized American point guard Horace Nguyen (178, college: Bristol) added 15 points and 4 assists respectively for Danang D. in the defeat. Thang Long W. moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Hanoi B. Loser Danang D. dropped to the bottom position with seven games lost. Thang Long W. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Danang D. will play again against Thang Long W. (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Danang D.: H.Nguyen 15+3reb+4ast, A.January 14+15reb+2ast, H.Nguyen Van 12+3reb, D.Huy Dai 6+1reb, H.Nguyen Van 6+10reb+2ast, S.Tam 6+1reb
Thang Long W.: J.Hill 34+14reb+1ast, H.Dang Thai 18+10reb+2ast, J.Young 11+9reb+3ast, D.Nguyen Thanh 8+8reb+4ast, L.Hong Gia 6+1reb+2ast, M.Anh 4+2reb+2ast