The VBA 2023 semifinals adopted a best-of-three format, which means that each pair of participating teams competed in a maximum of three matches.
The team that secured two wins first advanced to the final.
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| The Thang Long Warriors and Saigon Heat players compete at the 2023 VBA. Photo: VBA |
On September 11, after a swift 2-0 victory over the Thang Long Warriors, the defending champion Saigon Heat became the first team to advance to the 2023 VBA final, giving them almost a week to prepare before the championship defense on September 17.
The opponents were expected to be either the Hanoi Buffaloes or Nha Trang Dolphins, both of whom had special encounters and connections with the Saigon Heat.
The Hanoi Buffaloes were the only team that decisively defeated the Saigon Heat in the group stage, while the Nha Trang Dolphins boast the talents of Madarious Gibbs, a remarkable guard who played a pivotal role in securing the Heat’s championship victory in the previous season.
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| The Hanoi Buffaloes and Nha Trang Dolphins players compete at the 2023 VBA. Photo: VBA |
If the Nha Trang Dolphins make it to the final, the series would become exceptionally intriguing as it would see the assists record holder and his former teammates facing off against each other.
In the second semifinal, the situation favored the Nha Trang Dolphins as they held a 1-0 lead.
Meanwhile, the Buffaloes’ standout player, Lenny Daniel, has yet to deliver on his expected performance.
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| The Nha Trang Dolphins’ Madarious Gibbs. Photo: VBA |
Considering the overall context, the Saigon Heat was in a highly advantageous position, capitalizing on their schedule advantage to closely analyze the competition between the Hanoi Buffaloes and the Nha Trang Dolphins.
If the mentioned pair proceeds to a third match, the winner of this intense competition would find themselves in a challenging position against the Saigon Heat, with only one day to rest and make their way to the final match venue.
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