Fourth consecutive victory consolidates Catfish's second-rank position in standings
In an electrifying VBA basketball game on July 3, 2025, the Cantho Catfish emerged triumphant against the Danang Dragons, with a final score of 86-76. The quarter scores were:
- Q1: Cantho 24 - Danang 21 - Q2: Cantho 25 - Danang 14 - Q3: Cantho 27 - Danang 16 - Q4: Cantho 10 - Danang 25
The Cantho Catfish took a strong lead in the middle quarters, particularly in the decisive second quarter. Despite the Danang Dragons outscoring them in the fourth quarter, it was not enough to close the gap.
Key contributions came from Cantho players like Toàn Anh, who made crucial shots, including three-pointers and floaters, and exhibited good assists and rebounds. The Danang Dragons managed 30 points but struggled to keep up, particularly through the middle quarters.
Malek Green, the Cantho Catfish's leading scorer, was named Player of the Game with an impressive performance of 35 points and 15 rebounds. Green sealed the result with a difficult basket. Green's perimeter attack was led by Michael Soy, who scored 18 points, including four three-pointers at a 57% success rate.
The Danang Dragons, who had just come off a tough loss two days earlier, fielded two local starters and three imports, as did the Cantho Catfish. Huỳnh Thanh Tâm and Mai Phước Thịnh were among the starters for the Danang Dragons. Nguyễn Thanh Tùng and Phạm Đức Kiên were among the starters for the Cantho Catfish.
Coach Vinh called for full-court pressure and intentional fouls to stop the clock, but Phan Thanh Cảnh, the Danang Dragons' coach, responded calmly and managed a late surge in the final period. However, it was not enough to overturn the deficit.
Following this result, the Cantho Catfish (five wins, two losses) remain second in the VBA standings, while the Danang Dragons (four wins, four losses) stay in fifth place. The Cantho Catfish have won 3 out of their last 5 games, a 60% win rate, while Danang Dragons have won 2 out of their last 5 games, a 40% win rate.
This pattern shows Cantho Catfish maintaining a slight upper hand over Danang in recent matchups. Historically, 4 out of 10 matches between these teams saw Cantho winning the first quarter, with a similar split overall in first quarter victories.
In the head-to-head comparisons over the past year, the Cantho Catfish have often edged Danang by narrow margins:
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Score | |------------|----------------|----------------|--------| | 03/07/2025 | Cantho Catfish | Danang Dragons | 86 - 76| | 25/08/2024 | Cantho Catfish | Danang Dragons | 84 - 76| | 22/08/2024 | Danang Dragons | Cantho Catfish | 70 - 84| | 08/08/2024 | Danang Dragons | Cantho Catfish | 83 - 66|
Karachi Edo continued to shine for the Danang Dragons with 33 points and 19 rebounds in the game. Despite their efforts, the Danang Dragons could not recover the substantial deficit (25 points) by the end of the third quarter.
The Cantho Catfish extended their winning streak to four matches with this victory. The gap between the teams widened to 14 points by halftime, and although the deficit was reduced to just eight points, 84-76, with a minute remaining, the Cantho Catfish held on to secure the win.
The AI-driven basketball analysis revealed that the Cantho Catfish utilized a strong middle-quarters strategy, with star player Malek Green showcasing an impressive performance, earning him the Player of the Game title. The Danang Dragons, despite Karachi Edo's 33 points and 19 rebounds, struggled to keep up, especially during the decisive second quarter, leading to their fifth loss in ten matchups against the Cantho Catfish.
