VietNamNet Bridge – Saigon Heat lost to defending champions Thang Long Warriors 62-73 in the Viet Nam Basketball Association (VBA) League on August 5.

Saigon Heat’s Tran Dang Khoa (middle) is blocked by the Warriors. – Photo VBA

The game was held at the CIS Arena in HCM City.

The two sides played aggressively in the first quarter. Tavarion Nix scored seven points to help the Heat take the lead. However, with three-point shots each, Ngo Tuan Trung and Bui Thai Ha narrowed the gap for the Warriors.

Hong Gia Lan’s outstanding performance in the closing minutes helped push the hosts’ lead to 21-15. Lan scored nine points with three three-point shots.

In the next quarter, the visiting side fought back strongly to level the distance to 31-31. However, Tran Dang Khoa and Vo Kim Ban shone in time, making the Heat’s fans jump for joy as they maintained their lead of 40-34.

Coach Predrag Lukic of the Warriors changed his tactics in the third period to beat the defence of the Heat and they succeeded in leapfrogging them 56-51.

In the last quarter, the Heat wasn’t able to regain the upper hand and suffered a loss at full time of 62-73.

Following this defeat, the Heat drop to third place with a total of eight wins and five losses. While the Warriors moved up one place to second position with eight wins and four losses.

The Warriors will next face Da Nang Dragons on August 7 in Hanoi, while the Heat will meet top team Cantho Catfish on August 12 in HCM City. 

Source: VNS