The Vietnam Basketball Association, abbreviated as VBA, is a Vietnamese national professional basketball league founded in 2016. It runs an annual tournament, the Vietnam Pro Basketball League ().
History The formation of the VBA was announced by charter team Saigon Heat following their completion of the 2015–16 ASEAN Basketball League season. Leading up to the inaugural season, the VBA expected that six teams would compete in the new league. However, only five teams were officially unveiled. To oversee league operations, the VBA looked to the Philippines for personnel with extensive basketball experience. Tonichi Pujante was named the inaugural league commissioner.
Teams
The VBA started its inaugural season with five teams. The Thang Long Warriors was added as the sixth team in the 2017 season, followed by the Nha Trang Dolphins as the seventh in the 2020 season.
Team Based in Home venue Founded Joined Head coach Cantho Catfish Ninh Kiều District, Cần Thơ Cần Thơ Multipurpose Sports Arena 2016 Jordan Collins Danang Dragons Hải Châu District, Đà Nẵng 5th Military Region Arena 2016 Todd Purves Hanoi Buffaloes Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi Tay Ho District Arena 2016 Erik Rashad Ho Chi Minh City Wings District 3, Ho Chi Minh City Hồ Xuân Hương Sports Arena 2016 Lee Tao Dana Nha Trang Dolphins Nha Trang City, Khánh Hòa Khánh Hòa Provincial Gymnasium 2020 Christopher Daleo Saigon Heat District 7, Ho Chi Minh City CIS Sports Arena 2011 2016 David Grice
Regular season and playoffs
Following the summer break, the preseason typically begins in May. During this period, the teams build their 13–16-man rosters, with each team allowed to carry one foreign, two overseas Vietnamese, and 10 to 13 local players. The VBA regular season begins at the start of June and runs until the end of September. Each team plays 12 games, divided between six home and six away matches. At the end of the regular season, the league's overall leader is awarded the Fans' Shield.
At the conclusion of the regular season, the playoffs begin. In the inaugural season, all teams are eligible for the tournament style playoffs. However, the teams that finish in the #4 and #5 seeds must meet each other in a wildcard game to proceed to the playoffs. The winner of the game meets the #1 seeded team. From the 2017 season onwards, there are six teams, and the wildcard game is scrapped. #1 will play #4 and the #2 seeded team meets the #3 seeded team in a best-of-three series. The winners then progress to the VBA finals.
Results by year Season Finalists Losing semi-finalists ChampionsResults Runner-up2016Danang Dragons20Ho Chi Minh City WingsSaigon HeatHanoi Buffaloes2017Thang Long Warriors32Cantho CatfishSaigon HeatHanoi Buffaloes2018Cantho Catfish30Hanoi BuffaloesSaigon HeatThang Long Warriors2019Saigon Heat32Cantho CatfishHo Chi Minh City WingsThang Long Warriors2020Saigon Heat31Thang Long WarriorsCantho CatfishHanoi Buffaloes2022Saigon Heat30Hanoi BuffaloesHo Chi Minh City WingsNha Trang Dolphins2023Saigon Heat31Nha Trang DolphinsHanoi BuffaloesThang Long Warriors2024Saigon Heat30Cantho CatfishHanoi BuffaloesNha Trang Dolphins2025Hanoi Buffaloes30Nha Trang DolphinsSaigon HeatCantho Catfish2026Saigon Heat31Hanoi BuffaloesNha Trang DolphinsHo Chi Minh City Wings
Champions Team Champions Runners-up Total Winning year(s) Runner-up year(s)Saigon Heat6062019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026 - Cantho Catfish13420182017, 2019, 2024 Hanoi Buffaloes1342025 2018, 2022, 2026Thang Long Warriors11220172020Danang Dragons1012016 -Ho Chi Minh City Wings011 - 2016Nha Trang Dolphins011 - 2023, 2025
See also Sport in Vietnam Vietnam national basketball team FIBA Asia Champions Cup ASEAN Basketball League
References
External links