Saigon Heat secured a resounding victory in their opening match of the 2026 VBA season.

(NLĐO) - Former VBA champion Saigon Heat started the 2026 season impressively by dominating Cantho Catfish with a score of 90-64 at home on the evening of May 22nd.

In their first encounter in the 2026 VBA season, home team Saigon Heat and visiting team Cantho Catfish shared a similar strategy. Both teams entrusted the defensive duties near the basket to their local centers. Accordingly, Nguyen Huynh Phu Vinh and Tim Waale guarded the basket for the home team, while Dau Trung Kien and Nguyen Van Gia Huy played inside for the visiting team.

However, right from the first quarter, Saigon Heat showed their superior strength thanks to their fast-paced play and well-balanced team. The duo of Nguyen Huynh Phu Vinh and Tim Waale helped the home team control the paint area well, while the offense continuously scored points from various offensive options to create a 25-15 lead.

Saigon Heat defeated Cantho Catfish in their opening match of the 2026 VBA season.

In the second quarter, Cantho Catfish tried to improve their game with long-range shots from Nguyen Hoang Tuan and Phung Quoc Hung, but they lacked effectiveness. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Saigon Heat continued to maintain their dominance, increasing the lead to 47-28 before halftime.

Corey Anthony Raley Ross attempts to drive to the basket against Saigon Heat before Phu Vinh.

After the break, Coach Vu The Cang's team maintained a high tempo. The brilliance of foreign player Brandis Raley Ross helped "Mr. 30" extend their lead to 75-43 after the third quarter.

In the final quarter, Saigon Heat continued to neutralize their opponent's key players, while Jamal Mayali consistently scored points to maintain a lead of over 30 points, ultimately closing out the game with a 90-64 victory.

Jamal Mayali possesses a versatile scoring skill set.

Jamal Mayali was named "Player of the Match" with 24 points and 6 assists. Saigon Heat also outperformed in several key statistics such as shooting efficiency (42% vs. 32%), rebounds (60 vs. 47), and assists (20 vs. 11).

Earlier, on May 21st, the opening ceremony of the VBA 2026 took place successfully at the Xuan Dinh Gymnasium ( Hanoi ). Besides the presence of numerous distinguished guests, the 11th season of the Vietnam Professional Basketball League was also captivating thanks to the performance of the defending champions, Hanoi Buffaloes.

Mongolian player Azzaya Batkhuyag (in white jersey) seeks a way to drive into the paint area near the Hanoi Buffaloes' basket.

In four convincing quarters, the "Capital City Buffaloes" secured a dominant victory over the Nha Trang Dolphins with a score of 116-92.

Watch VBA 2026 live and exclusively onFPT Play, at: https://fptplay.vn

Source: https://nld.com.vn/saigon-heat-thang-dep-ngay-ra-quan-vba-2026-196260523004154097.htm