VBA 2024: Saigon Heat take first win in Hà Nội

Jevonnie Scott dunk. Saigon Heat won agains the Buffaloes. Photo courtesy of VBA

HÀ NỘI In the 34th game of VBA 2024, the defending champion Saigon Heat continued to show their champion mentality to the rest of the league with a strong 95-72 victory over the Hanoi Buffaloes.  

In the first five minutes of the first quarter, Buffaloes’ big man Ruot Monyyong and the team’s shooters quickly found a connection to help the “Capital Buffalos” take a lead of 12-4. 

However, coach David Grice of the Heat quickly responded by putting Nguyễn Anh Kiệt in the game. The player, known as the “black panther”, quickly joined hands with Nguyễn Huỳnh Phú Vinh and Jevonnie Scott to help the guests to take back the lead 18-17 by the end of the first quarter. 

In the second quarter, the duo of Hassan Thomas and Monyyong had to leave the court because of foul trouble. Replacing these two players were the young duo Đinh Toàn Quốc and Caleb Nguyễn. 

With the home team missing two big men in the paint, Jevonnie Scott of the Heat, with huge support from Phú Vinh, easily dominated the paint.

The Heat easily created a nine-point lead 46-37.

Entering the third quarter, Scott continued to dominate the paint while shooters like Võ Kim Bản and Elijah Weaver successfully made four three-pointers, allowing the away team to establish a lead of 15 points at 74-59.

Things became even more difficult for the home team when Monyyong fouled out with his fifth personal foul. Without their center, there were nothing that the home team could do to make a comeback. 

The Heat easily won 95-72. Scott, the “machine” that destroys the paint area, was the owner of the Player of the Game title with 29 points and eight rebounds.

“The first time playing away in Hà Nội was not easy. The Buffaloes are a strong opponent with quality players. However, the last loss gave us lessons to be able to win tonight,” Scott said. VNS