CITYLAND GROUP: CANTHO CATFISH BASKETBALL TEAM RISES TO TOP 2 OF VBA 2024 AFTER 4 CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES

With a strong desire to accompany the overall development of Vietnamese basketball, CityLand Group proudly marks its growth journey by investing in professional league activities and inspiring fans through the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA) in recent years. As part of this commitment, the Cantho Catfish basketball team has officially become a member of the CityLand Group ecosystem.

At the 9th season of the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA 2024), which officially kicked off on June 19, Cantho Catfish joined six other teams in a thrilling journey that will run through September 29.

Leading the team this season is none other than Head Coach Lê Trần Minh Nghĩa, a familiar and respected figure in Vietnamese basketball.

A well-known figure in Vietnamese basketball, Coach Nghĩa has held various key roles across national leagues, the VBA, and the SEA Games. His expertise and leadership are expected to be critical driving forces in igniting the team’s spirit as Cantho Catfish pursues the championship title this season.

Cantho Catfish match schedule for VBA 2024 season.

Cantho Catfish stands as a symbol of sportsmanship, passion, and an unyielding desire to win. The team has played five matches so far, each one filled with intensity and excitement for fans. Notably, with four consecutive victories in recent games—thanks to a cohesive playing style and standout performances from key players—Cantho Catfish has claimed second place in the standings.

After two tough losses at the beginning of the season, the team secured its first win on July 3, led by a stellar performance from Tâm Đinh, defeating the Hanoi Buffaloes 74–68.

Riding the momentum from their victory over the Hanoi Buffaloes, Cantho Catfish continued to showcase their dominance on July 6 by overpowering the Ho Chi Minh City Wings with a commanding 93–74 win.

On July 10, Cantho Catfish extended their winning streak to three consecutive games with an impressive 91–73 victory over the Nha Trang Dolphins.

Right from the first half of the match, CanTho Catfish created a three-point rain when they successfully made 10 shots from beyond the arc, giving them a big advantage before entering the third quarter. In the second half of the match, the two teams fought back and forth, but thanks to the advantage built up from the previous quarters, Catfish maintained their victory. Dakota Zinser was the brightest star of the match with an impressive performance, scoring 37 points and successfully making 7 three-point shots. Zinser’s excellence played an important role in CanTho Catfish’s victory, helping the team maintain high performance and continue to make strong progress this season. In particular, Catfish showed excellent three-point shooting ability when they successfully made 18 shots from beyond the arc, just 1 shot short of the VBA record. Breaking the three-point shooting record is a testament to CanTho Catfish’s diverse and effective offensive ability. Zinser’s performance, along with support from his teammates, showed that Catfish can attack from every position on the court, especially from beyond the arc, only missing 1 shot from the VBA record. This further proves the danger when Catfish can attack effectively from every position on the court. In this match, in addition to the achievement of 18 three-pointers, approaching the VBA record (19), Cantho Catfish also raised the level of quick counterattacks with the ability to organize neatly and quickly. At the same time, coach Le Tran Minh Nghia and his team increasingly demonstrated a convincing collective play style.

Dakota Zinser (Cantho Catfish) scored 37 points against the Nha Trang Dolphins.

“I’m extremely proud of my teammates. Everyone contributed to this victory. We lost our first two games, but right now, the whole team is staying united. For me, this award means less than the fact that we’re playing well together as a team. Even with a win, we’ll go right back to working hard to prepare for the next game,” shared Dakota Zinser.

In the 20th game of the 2024 VBA season on July 13, Cantho Catfish completed a stunning comeback to defeat the Ho Chi Minh City Wings with a score of 82–81, solidifying their second-place position on the VBA 2024 standings in convincing fashion.

Yevgen Sakhniuk, the driving force behind the Cantho Catfish, delivered an outstanding performance and was named Player of the Game with a triple-double — recording 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. This remarkable feat also made the Ukrainian import the first player in the VBA 2024 season to achieve a triple-double.

CityLand Group’s leadership is also a fan of Cantho Catfish at matches.

With the support and encouragement from CityLand Group in particular and fans in general, the upcoming games will be a chance for Cantho Catfish to continue showcasing their strength and hunger for victory—especially after setting a remarkable new record.

Next game schedule: At 7:30 PM on July 17, 2024, Cantho Catfish will face off against Saigon Heat in what promises to be a thrilling and explosive match at the Canadian International School Arena (CIS). Let’s spread the passion and ignite the energy from the stands to fuel Cantho Catfish on their journey!