VTF Pro Tour 3 to start today

Phạm Minh Tuấn will play in the tournament. — Photo courtesy of organising board

The Việt Nam Tennis Federation’s (VTF) Pro Tour 3 - Vietravel Cup 2018, is scheduled to start in Đà Nẵng today.

The event will attract the participation of nearly 100 players from 10 teams nationwide such as Ninh Thuận, Vĩnh Phúc and Hà Nội, competing in men’s and women’s singles and doubles.

Fans will see leading players of the country in the event including Phạm Minh Tuấn, Trịnh Linh Giang, Lê Quốc Khánh, as well as defending champions of Vietravel Cup 2017, Tiffany Linh Nguyễn, Sĩ Bội Ngọc and Trần Thụy Thanh Trúc.

The winner in the men’s singles category will walk away with the prize of VNĐ40 million (US$1,740), while the female winner will receive VNĐ30 million ($1,300).

The tournament will end on June 10.

Hải Phương Nam-Gia Định University wins national futsal event

Hải Phương Nam-Gia Định University vs Sanatech Sanest Khánh Hòa at the National HDBank Futsal Tournament yesterday. — Photo vtc.vn

Hải Phương Nam-Gia Định University won the first leg of the National HDBank Futsal Tournament yesterday.

The team defeated Sanatech Sanest Khánh Hòa 3-1 in the last match of the first leg held in Đà Nẵng.

This win helped Hải Phương Nam-Gia Định University top the rankings with 23 points after nine matches, followed by Thái Sơn Nam with 20 points.

Earlier, Cao Bằng rose to third place after beating Tân Hiệp Hưng 1-0.

Meanwhile, Sài Gòn FC also maintained their position in the top five after crushing Hoàng Thư Đà Nẵng 4-1.

The event’s second leg will start on September 7.

HCM City tie with HAGL in V.League 1

HCM City and Hoàng Anh Gia Lai’s players vie for ball in the V.League 1 on June 3. — Photo catscdn.vn

HCM City tied 2-2 with Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) in the 11th round of the V.League 1 yesterday.

The game was held at the Pleiku Stadium in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai.

“I regret that HCM City played well but we didn’t beat HAGL,” said coach of HCM City Toshiya Miura after the match.

The former national coach also highly appreciated HAGL’s young talents including Nguyễn Công Phượng, Nguyễn Văn Toàn, Lương Xuân Trường, who grew up playing in the National Premiere League.

Taking full advantage of playing on their home turf, HAGL were in clear control from the start of the game.

Toàn gave HAGL the lead before the first half closed, scoring off a pass from one of his teammates.

After the break, Phượng doubled the score for the hosts.

However, HAGL’s defence line didn’t play with focus, leaving the team two goals short in only three minutes. In the 67th and 70th minutes, Huỳnh Văn Thanh and Đỗ Văn Thuận scored goals, helping HCM City level the score.

HAGL fought back, determined to score, but they failed to score any goals.

With this draw, HAGL maintained their fourth ranking with 17 points, while HCM City are in the 11th position with 11 points.

At the Hòa Xuân Stadium in Đà Nẵng City, Sông Lam Nghệ An also tied 2-2 with hosts SHB Đà Nẵng.

With just one point in this match, SLNA still rank among the bottom-placed teams with eight points after 11 matches. SHB Đà Nẵng stand at ninth place with 13 points.

After this match, SLNA will move to HCM City to prepare for their match against Sài Gòn FC on June 9.

Elsewhere, top team Hà Nội FC crushed Sanna Khánh Hòa 4-0. Nam Định tied with  Thanh Hóa 1-1. Quảng Ninh Coal also drew with Becamex Bình Dương 1-1, and Hải Phòng beat Sài Gòn 1-0.

Hanoi Buffaloes beat Thanglong Warriors

Mike Bell (right). — Photo tinthethao.com.vn

Hanoi Buffaloes defeated defending champions Thanglong Warriors in the second match of the VBA Preseason held in Hà Nội on Saturday.

Mike Bell scored 16 points, three assists, 16 rebounds and seven blocks to help the Buffaloes’ win. He was named the most valuable player of the match.

The 36-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, played collegiate ball at North Carolina State University and Florida Atlantic University, where he scored over 1,000 points in two seasons.

Bell spent most of his professional career overseas, and his highlights include stops in Mexico and Japan. His closest brush with the NBA was a Summer League run with Orlando Magic in 2007.

This year’s VBA features six teams, including Thanglong Warriors, Hanoi Buffaloes, Danang Dragons, HCM City Wings, Saigon Heat, and Cantho Catfish.

It will officially start on June 16 and last until September 16.

HAGL lose their key player in 11th round

Striker Rimario Gordon of Hoàng Anh Gia Lai. — Photo zing.vn

Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) will have to do without star man Rimario Gordon against HCM City in the 11th round of V.League 1 tomorrow.

Jamaican striker Gordon has been suspended for receiving three yellow cards.

The 23-year-old striker’s absence will be a loss for HAGL up front. Gordon has scored two goals in this year’s season for HAGL in the National Cup and has been a key factor in HAGL’s rise to fourth in the league table.

Alongside Gordon, midfielder Quế Ngọc Hải of Sông Lam Nghệ An (SLNA) and Võ Út Cường of Cần Thơ have also been suspended for the same reason.

Meanwhile, striker Ganiyu Bolayi Oseni of Hà Nội FC has been suspended two matches for elbowing defender Mạnh Hùng of SLNA in the 10th round on May 30 at Vinh Stadium.

As a result, Oseni can’t compete for top team Hà Nội in the match with Khánh Hòa on June 3 and Quảng Nam on June 9.

The Nigerian striker is the top scorer of league now with 12 goals after 10 matches.

Besides Oseni, national U23 team star Nguyễn Quang Hải is also out of action for Hà Nội because of injury.