VBA 2024: Nha Trang Dolphins beat City Wings thanks to squad depth

Joe Mvuezolo  with 29 points and five steals lead the Dolphins to the victory against the City Wings. Photo courtesy of VBA

HCM CITY In the third match up between the City Wings and the Dolphins this season, the City Wings had home advantage and spirits were high after they ended a long losing streak.

As for the Dolphins, in the most recent match, coach Chris Daleo and his team had just suffered a bitter defeat at Tây Hồ Gymnasium against the Hanoi Buffaloes. However, in terms of squad quality, the last season’s runners-up still rated higher than the home team.

Both teams began the game with powerful plays, with intense tempo and fierce defensive pressure causing both teams many turnovers

In the midst of the tense game, Joe Mvuezolo helped the Dolphins take the lead thanks to two three-pointers. However, the City Wings, with the effective connection of the main players, quickly regained control to lead the first quarter 22-19.

In the second quarter, big man Mykal Jenkins of the Dolphins scored his first points. His powerful plays in the paint helped the guest equalise then lead by six points 30-24.

The home team countered back quickly, but the guest still took a lead of only one point at 41-40 by the end of the second quarter.

In the third quarter, the City Wings fell into a difficult situation when their main scorer Shon Briggs had to temporarily sit on the bench due to his fourth personal foul.

Using this advantage, coach Chris Daleo and his team accelerated to increase the lead. Thanks to the brilliance of the domestic trio, Vĩnh Quang, Minh Tâm, Hoàng Phúc, the Dolphins ended the third quarter with a nine-point advantage of 63-54.

Briggs returned to the court in the fourth quarter but less than a minute later, committed his fifth personal foul and was out of the game.

Losing their main scorer, Maurice Gordon and captain Trần Đăng Khoa could not do anything to make a comeback for the home team. In the end, the Dolphins finished with a final score of 84-73. 

Joe Mvuezolo, the top scorer on the court, was named Player of the Game with 29 points and five steals.

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