VBA Round 4 (Regular Season): Catfish edge Heat by two points

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 4 in the VBA took place in Saigon. This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of 3rd ranked Heat (3-2) to fourth ranked Catfish (4-2) 77-75 on Saturday evening. It was a key game for the second position in the league. American forward Malek Green (201-1999, college: YSU) fired a double-double by scoring 29 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. Filipino point guard Michael Soy (182-1997, college: Algonquin) chipped in 20 points. American Davon Dillard (196-1996, college: Shaw) produced a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 10 rebounds for lost side. Catfish have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place. Defending champion Heat dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with Dragons. Catfish will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Heat will play on the road against Dolphins (#3) in Nha Trang and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Heat (3-2) against fourth ranked Catfish (4-2) on Thursday night. Visiting Heat was defeated by Catfish in a tough game in Can Tho 90-98. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Malek Green (201-1999, college: YSU) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 39 points (!!!) and 18 rebounds. Dajuan Madden contributed with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 steals for the winners. American Davon Dillard (196-1996, college: Shaw) replied with a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 5 assists for Heat. Catfish have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place. Defending champion Heat dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with Dragons. Catfish will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Heat will play on the road against Dolphins (#3) in Nha Trang and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked Wings (0-6) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 101-66 loss to fifth ranked Dragons (3-2) in Danang on Friday evening. Worth to mention a great performance of Timothy Simmons who helped to win the game recording a triple-double by scoring 12 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists and 5 steals. At the losing side Darrius Austin responded with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 22 rebounds and 4 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Dragons have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Heat. City Wings at the other side still closes the standings with six games lost. Dragons will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. City Wings will play against the league's leader Buffaloes (#1) in Hanoi and hope to get finally their first victory.

In the last game of round 4 winless City Wings were crushed by Dragons in Danang 113-87.
The best stats of 4th round was 28 points, 20 rebounds and 4 assists by Karachi Edo of Dragons.



Catfish - Heat 98-90

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Heat (3-2) against fourth ranked Catfish (4-2) on Thursday night. Visiting Heat was defeated by Catfish in a tough game in Can Tho 90-98. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Catfish forced 19 Heat turnovers. Heat was plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Malek Green (201-1999, college: YSU) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 39 points (!!!) and 18 rebounds. The other American import guard Dajuan Madden (188-1996, college: PVAMU) contributed with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 steals for the winners. American Davon Dillard (196-1996, college: Shaw) replied with a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 5 assists and the former international power forward Vinh Nguyen Huynh Phu (203-1998) added 13 points and 12 rebounds in the effort for Heat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Catfish have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place. Defending champion Heat dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with Dragons. Catfish will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Heat will play on the road against Dolphins (#3) in Nha Trang and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Catfish: M.Green 39+18reb+1ast, D.Madden 23+5reb+4ast, A.Opena 18+5reb+4ast, M.Soy 15+1reb+1ast, T.Duong Duc 3, K.Le Khac Dang 0
Heat: D.Dillard 33+10reb+5ast, V.Nguyen Huynh Phu 13+12reb+2ast, A.Hollins 12+10reb+4ast, T.Waale 10+5reb+1ast, K.Ban Vo 9+1reb+2ast, T.Chinges 9+2reb+2ast

Dragons - City Wings 101-66

Bottom-ranked Wings (0-6) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 101-66 loss to fifth ranked Dragons (3-2) in Danang on Friday evening. They also forced 19 City Wings turnovers. Dragons looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by City Wings' players. Worth to mention a great performance of American Timothy Simmons (195-1992, college: DBU) who helped to win the game recording a triple-double by scoring 12 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists and 5 steals and the other American import forward Karachi Edo (196-1994, college: Fresno St.) who added 16 points and 6 rebounds during the contest. Edo attended previously one of camps at Eurobasket Summer League on his way to pro basketball. Four Dragons players scored in double figures. At the losing side American power forward Darrius Austin (201-1998, college: Feather River) responded with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 22 rebounds and 4 assists and Filipino point guard James Martinez (170-1987) scored 20 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Dragons have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Heat. City Wings at the other side still closes the standings with six games lost. Dragons will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. City Wings will play against the league's leader Buffaloes (#1) in Hanoi and hope to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Dragons: K.Edo 16+6reb+2ast, T.Hoang 15+2reb+1ast, T.Simmons 12+12reb+12ast, D.Lam Minh 10+2reb+2ast, C.Ganbat 10+2reb+2ast, T.Mai Phuoc 9+4reb+4ast
City Wings: J.Martinez 20+1reb+3ast, D.Austin 17+22reb+4ast, D.Tran Duc 9+1reb+1ast, K.Dau Trung 8+6reb, D.Nguyen Lam Anh 5+3reb+1ast, N.Huynh 4+5reb

Heat - Catfish 75-77

The most exciting game of round 4 in the VBA took place in Saigon. This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of 3rd ranked Heat (3-2) to fourth ranked Catfish (4-2) 77-75 on Saturday evening. It was a key game for the second position in the league. American forward Malek Green (201-1999, college: YSU) fired a double-double by scoring 29 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. Filipino point guard Michael Soy (182-1997, college: Algonquin) chipped in 20 points. Four Catfish players scored in double figures. American Davon Dillard (196-1996, college: Shaw) produced a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 10 rebounds and his fellow American import forward Alfred Hollins (198-1999, college: UTEP) added 20 points and 8 rebounds respectively for lost side. Catfish have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place. Defending champion Heat dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with Dragons. Catfish will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Heat will play on the road against Dolphins (#3) in Nha Trang and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Catfish: M.Green 29+13reb+2ast, M.Soy 20+2reb+2ast, A.Opena 15+3reb+1ast, D.Madden 10+7reb+5ast, H.Nguyen Quang 2+3reb, T.Nguyen Thanh 1
Heat: D.Dillard 34+10reb+2ast, A.Hollins 20+8reb+2ast, V.Nguyen Huynh Phu 6+8reb+2ast, T.Chinges 5+4reb, K.Ban Vo 3+2reb+1ast, T.Waale 3+3reb+1ast

Dragons - City Wings 113-87

The game between closely ranked teams ended with bottom-ranked Wings' (0-6) road loss to fifth ranked Dragons (3-2) 87-113 on Sunday. Dragons looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by City Wings' players. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Karachi Edo (196-1994, college: Fresno St.) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 28 points, 20 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import Timothy Simmons (195-1992, college: DBU) who added 21 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals during the contest. Edo is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. At the losing side American power forward Darrius Austin (201-1998, college: Feather River) responded with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 26 rebounds and Filipino point guard James Martinez (170-1987) scored 29 points. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Dragons have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Heat. Loser Wings still closes the standings with six games lost. Dragons will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. City Wings will play against the league's leader Buffaloes (#1) in Hanoi and look forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Dragons: K.Edo 28+20reb+4ast, T.Simmons 21+9reb+6ast, Q.Le 20+5reb, C.Ganbat 11+3reb+1ast, H.Nguyen Anh 7+1reb, T.Huynh Thanh 6+2reb+8ast
City Wings: J.Martinez 29+2ast, D.Austin 20+26reb+3ast, N.Huynh 12+5reb+1ast, K.Dau Trung 10+5reb, A.Bryant 9+4reb+4ast, D.Tran Duc 5+2reb+4ast