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Catfish from Cantho secure third position in VBA semifinals, setting the finals in stone

Playoff participants are confirmed following Cantho Catfish's dominant 95-66 win over Nha Trang Dolphins at Tân Bình Gymnasium on August 29, securing the Catfish third place.

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2025 September 8 . 12:33 PM

2 min read

Catfish from Cantho secure third position, with the semifinals of the VBA now official.

Catfish from Cantho secure third position in VBA semifinals, setting the finals in stone

In a closely-watched match at Tân Bình Gymnasium on Friday, August 29, the Cantho Catfish defeated the Nha Trang Dolphins with a commanding score of 95-66.

The Dolphins, who relied heavily on their key player Max Allen, fielded a largely reserve line-up, which proved challenging for them. Meanwhile, Coach Phan Thanh Cảnh of the Cantho Catfish strategically slowed the tempo in the third quarter and gave more minutes to his bench. This move paid off, as the Catfish maintained a substantial 73-44 lead over the Dolphins at the end of the third quarter.

Devin Peterson, who replaced the injured point guard Dajuan Madden, played a significant role in the Catfish's strong start. Peterson helped the team take a 29-17 lead in the first quarter, a lead they never relinquished.

The Dolphins, who rested their key trio Jaylyn Richardson, Mykal Jenkins, and Huỳnh Vĩnh Quang for the match, struggled to keep up with the Catfish's momentum. However, Soy, a familiar face in the league and a former player for the Buffaloes, shone brightly for the Dolphins. Despite the Catfish's dominance, Soy's strong performance helped him regain his scoring touch, resulting in eight three-pointers and a total of 28 points in the last quarter alone.

The Catfish extended their lead to a 30-point margin at half-time, with a score of 56-26. Soy's impressive performance earned him the title of Player of the Game. The Dolphins were unable to mount a comeback in the second half, and the Catfish closed out the win in the last quarter.

With this victory, the Cantho Catfish have secured third place in the VBA playoffs. Soy expressed confidence in the team's position after the group stage, and the team's focus is now on the semifinals, with the goal of returning to the finals. The playoff bracket has been set, with the semifinals featuring the Buffaloes against the defending champion Saigon Heat, and the Nha Trang Dolphins against the Cantho Catfish.

The remaining group-stage game outcome will not affect the playoff bracket. The Catfish, buoyed by their recent victory, will be eager to continue their winning streak in the playoffs.