The allure of the Hanoi basketball derby was evident in the packed Cau Giay Gymnasium, with the "blue half" cheering for the Hanoi Buffaloes and the "red half" supporting the Thang Long Warriors. Both teams had a record of 3 wins and 2 losses before this clash.
The Hanoi basketball derby was a thrilling match.
Just days before the derby, Hanoi Buffaloes unexpectedly replaced foreign player Russell Smith with Udun Osakue. In the first two quarters, the new Hanoi Buffaloes player was the center of attention and he showed his abilities with a versatile and effective playing style, scoring 20 points for Hanoi Buffaloes in just over 15 minutes on his VBA debut.
Rookie Udun Osakue had to leave the court due to injury, but Hanoi Buffaloes still secured the victory.
Not intimidated by the fresh energy of the Hanoi Buffaloes, Thang Long Warriors' foreign player Sameen Swint repeatedly found open spaces at the three-point line to successfully score. Sameen Swint's performance, on par with Udun Osakue, helped Thang Long Warriors maintain a balanced game. In addition, the energetic play of 2.06m tall center John Fields at both ends of the basket helped Thang Long Warriors take a temporary 56-52 lead after the first two quarters.
Anthony January shone at the right moment, helping Hanoi Buffaloes defeat Thang Long Warriors, earning him the Man of the Match award.
The situation turned in favor of Thang Long Warriors in the third quarter when Udun Osakue suffered a leg injury and had to leave the court. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Thang Long Warriors' key players continuously sought to score points but faced fierce resistance from Hanoi Buffaloes. Furthermore, Nguyen Tien Duong and To Ngoc Khanh shone with their three-point shots for Hanoi Buffaloes.
Nguyen Tien Duong was equally outstanding, making the decisive shot that secured the victory for Hanoi Buffaloes.
Hanoi Buffaloes players impressed in the first half of the fourth quarter when Anthony January tied the score at 81-81, then veteran shooter Dinh Thanh Tam put his team ahead with a three-pointer at 84-81. From there, the two teams engaged in a thrilling back-and-forth battle. With 30 seconds remaining, John Fields shone, helping Thang Long Warriors tie the score at 91-91. Despite maintaining possession, Coach Chris Daleo's team missed two crucial shots that could have secured the victory, ultimately losing 93-91 to Hanoi Buffaloes thanks to Nguyen Tien Duong's counter-attack.
Nguyen Tien Duong made an impressive three-point shot in Hanoi Buffaloes' victory over Thang Long Warriors.
Anthony January, the foreign player who shone at the crucial moment to secure the victory for Hanoi Buffaloes, earned the title of Player of the Match with 30 points and 15 catches. Another hero for Hanoi Buffaloes, Nguyen Tien Duong, also contributed 17 points. Rookie Udun Osakue, despite being unable to compete for most of the second half, still scored 22 points and provided 7 assists.
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