Dominique Tham explodes, Nha Trang Dolphins leads Buffaloes 1-0 at VBA Playoffs 2023
1 week ago, Nha Trang Dolphins defeated Hanoi Buffaloes in the last Regular Season match at Nha Trang University Stadium. That day, the Dolphins did not have Dominique Tham due to suspension but still managed to overcome the Capital team.
Today at the Playoffs and still on the familiar ground, the same result was repeated. The only thing is that Nha Trang Dolphins were more dominant when they had a full squad, winning more strongly with a difference of up to 24 points.
Not only did Dom have a double-double, the Dolphins also had two other players with the same set of stats. Robert Sampson scored 21 points (4-11 3PT) with 16 rebounds and added 5 blocks. Madarious Gibbs had 18 points and completed a double-double with 10 assists.
Besides this trio, the Dolphins also had good performances from their internal soldiers, led by Huynh Vinh Quang's 10 points and 3 assists.
With a home field advantage that cannot be underestimated (having won all 6 matches in the Regular Season), Nha Trang Dolphins continued to enter the game with a flourish with a hot Domiinique Tham right from the first half.
The fact that the Buffaloes don't have a single pure striker that can resist Dominique leaves them with almost no solution. Coach Erik Rashad used many different options and continuously adjusted, but no Buffaloes player could stop the big man Dolphins.
Just like that, the player wearing shirt number 32 continuously scored successful near-the-basket points with a quite high rate (11-15 FG), accompanied by many and-1 phases and equally excellent free throw performance ( 4-5 FT).
With the muscular play of Dom and Robert Sampson in the area near the basket, the Nha Trang Dolphins led the Buffaloes' defense to shrink.
From here, their outfielders had plenty of space and took full advantage of it. In turn, Sampson, Son Minh Tam, Huynh Vinh Quang or Madarious Gibbs had successful long throws to widen the gap.
As for Hanoi Buffaloes, Lenny Daniel alone seemed to have to shoulder too many tasks. He played very hard in defense and had many commendable efforts in attack.
Lenny Daniel has 19 points and 18 rebounds. He alone had 7 offensive rebounds and had a relatively good performance (7-13 FG). But on the day there was no one strong enough to share the fire with this newly replaced foreign soldier, the Buffaloes were unable to close the gap in points.
Besides Daniel, there is no Hanoi player who scored more than 9 points. The rare standout is probably Udun Osakue with 7 points, 7 assists and 7 rebounds. But this foreign player had 4 turnovers and only had 3-15 FGs the whole match.
The next match of this VBA Playoffs series will take place on September 12 at Hoang Mai Stadium, home field of Hanoi Buffaloes. However, coach Erik Rashad and his team still have a lot to do to change this state from a 24-point defeat to a victory.
