VBA Round 15 (Regular Season): Buffaloes lose their first game against Heat

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Buffaloes (17-1) in Saigon on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by fourth ranked Heat (11-7) 93-85. It ended at the same time the 17-game winning streak of Buffaloes. Heat made 28-of-36 free shots (77.8 percent) during the game, while Buffaloes only scored seven points from the stripe. 28 personal fouls committed by Buffaloes helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for American Davon Dillard (196-1996, college: Shaw) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 32 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. The former international power forward Vinh Nguyen Huynh Phu (203-1998) helped adding 12 points and 10 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American swingman Tamyrik Fields (198-1996, college: Augusta, agency: Interperformances) with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 15 rebounds. Buffaloes' coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Heat have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion moved-up to third place, which they share with Catfish. Buffaloes at the other side still keep top position with one game lost.
Very significant was Catfish's (#3, 11-7) victory against second-best Dolphins (12-6) 95-66. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Dolphins. It was an exceptional evening for Filipino point guard Michael Soy (182-1997, college: Algonquin) who led the winners and scored 28 points. Malek Green accounted for 22 points and 10 rebounds. Catfish's coach felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Guard Munkhtur Togoo (187-2000) came up with 15 points and 7 rebounds for Dolphins in the defeat. Catfish maintains third place with 11-7 record having six points less than leader Buffaloes, which they share with Heat. Dolphins at the other side keep the second position with six games lost.
In the last game of round 15 Buffaloes won against City Wings on the opponent's court 108-95.



City Wings - Buffaloes 95-108

Very expected game in Ho Chi Minh where 7th ranked Wings (2-16) were defeated by first ranked Buffaloes (17-1) 108-95 on Thursday. Buffaloes forced 20 City Wings turnovers. The best player for the winners was American swingman Tamyrik Fields (198-1996, college: Augusta, agency: Interperformances) who had a double-double by scoring 28 points, 19 rebounds and 4 assists. His fellow American import point guard Lian Ramiro (180, college: UAFS) chipped in 20 points and 7 rebounds. Buffaloes' coach used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. At the other side the best for losing team was Ukrainian forward Yevgen Sakhniuk (201-1995, college: Jefferson) who recorded a double-double by scoring 21 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists and the former international guard Khoa Dang Tran Dang (183-1997) added 18 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists respectively. Four Buffaloes and five City Wings players scored in double figures. Buffaloes have an impressive series of seventeen victories in a row. They maintain first place with 17-1 record. City Wings lost sixth consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth position with 16 games lost. They share it with Islanders.
Top scorers:
Buffaloes: T.Fields 28+19reb+4ast, L.Tran Phi 22+5reb+1ast, L.Ramiro 20+7reb+2ast, J.Nguyen 12+3reb, H.Thomas 11+4reb+1ast, D.Bracey 6+5reb+6ast
City Wings: D.Zinser 24+4reb+4ast, Y.Sakhniuk 21+15reb+5ast, K.Dang Tran Dang 18+8reb+10ast, N.Huynh 12+8reb+3ast, K.Dau Trung 10+10reb+1ast, D.Tran Duc 6+3reb+2ast

Catfish - Dolphins 95-66

Very significant was Catfish's (#3, 11-7) victory against second-best Dolphins (12-6) 95-66. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Dolphins. Catfish players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Dolphins' players. It was an exceptional evening for Filipino point guard Michael Soy (182-1997, college: Algonquin) who led the winners and scored 28 points. American forward Malek Green (201-1999, college: YSU) accounted for 22 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side. Catfish's coach felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Guard Munkhtur Togoo (187-2000) came up with 15 points and 7 rebounds and Tam Son Minh (187-1999) added 14 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Dolphins in the defeat. Catfish maintains third place with 11-7 record having six points less than leader Buffaloes, which they share with Heat. Dolphins at the other side keep the second position with six games lost.
Top scorers:
Catfish: M.Soy 28+3reb+3ast, M.Green 22+10reb+2ast, G.Peterson 15+6reb+9ast, H.Nguyen Quang 9+7reb+3ast, T.Nguyen Thanh 7+3reb, A.Opena 6+6reb+4ast
Dolphins: M.Lee 16+4reb, M.Togoo 15+7reb+1ast, T.Son Minh 14+7reb+1ast, A.Hua Ky 8+7reb, L.Vo Duy 6+6reb+2ast, P.Nguyen Hoang 4+1reb+5ast

City Wings - Islanders 20-0




Heat - Buffaloes 93-85

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of undefeated Buffaloes (17-1) in Saigon on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by fourth ranked Heat (11-7) 93-85. It ended at the same time the 17-game winning streak of Buffaloes. Heat made 28-of-36 free shots (77.8 percent) during the game, while Buffaloes only scored seven points from the stripe. 28 personal fouls committed by Buffaloes helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for American Davon Dillard (196-1996, college: Shaw) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 32 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. The former international power forward Vinh Nguyen Huynh Phu (203-1998) helped adding 12 points and 10 rebounds. Dillard is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. The best for the losing side was American swingman Tamyrik Fields (198-1996, college: Augusta, agency: Interperformances) with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 15 rebounds and the other American import point guard DaQuan Bracey (180-1997, college: La Tech) scored 22 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Buffaloes' coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Heat have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion moved-up to third place, which they share with Catfish. Buffaloes at the other side still keep top position with one game lost.
Top scorers:
Heat: D.Dillard 32+10reb+6ast, T.Chinges 12+7reb+1ast, V.Nguyen Huynh Phu 12+10reb, K.Ban Vo 10+1ast, T.Waale 8+7reb+2ast, A.Hollins 8+3reb+4ast
Buffaloes: D.Bracey 22+5reb+6ast, T.Fields 21+15reb+3ast, H.Thomas 12+7reb+1ast, L.Ramiro 8+5reb+3ast, T.Tam Dinh 7+3reb, C.Nguyen Albert 6+2reb