Kentrell Barkley's game-winner slams Ho Chi Minh City Wings' Playoffs hopes
There was a time when Saigon Heat took the lead by more than 20 points and it seemed that the "HCMC derby" would be less attractive. However, Ho Chi Minh City Wings almost made a spectacular comeback when completely removing the gap that "Mr. 30" created.
The home team of Ho Xuan Huong Stadium had a series of miraculous revival points in the 4th half to equalize the score when the match was less than 3 seconds. Even so, their efforts received a very cold splash from Kentrell Barkley, the star of the Saigon Heat side.
In response to Jeremy Smith's 3-point equalizer, the Saigon Heat team and Kentrell Barkley personally scored the winning point when the fourth half was only 0.4 seconds.
Barkley's scoring phase and the excellent defense of this foreign soldier ended all hopes of the home team, closing the match with a breathtaking 80-78 victory at Ho Xuan Huong Stadium.
Ho Chi Minh City Wings' extraordinary upstream effort lasted from the end of the 3rd half to the end of the 4th, punctuated by Jeremy Smith's 3-point equalizing score of 78-78 when the match was only 2.6 seconds.
From an 18-point difference in the third half with 1 minute and 20 seconds remaining, City Wings brought the game to an even position. Unfortunately, at the moment of deciding the final result, Saigon Heat was better with the shining ball of Kentrell Barkley.
Kentrell Barkley was named man of the match with 36 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal. He was the only one who played all 40 minutes on the Saigon Heat side in this derby.
Behind Barkley are 19 points from Nguyen Huynh Phu Vinh, 8 points and 2 assists from Du Minh An and 8 points, 3 assists and 1 steal from Hoang Tu.
This victory helps Saigon Heat become the second team to close the VBA 2023 Playoffs. Also benefiting, although not playing, are the Thang Long Warriors, who were unable to overcome City Wings last weekend.
On the Ho Chi Minh City Wings side, Jeremy Smith's unbelievable throw helped the American foreigner get 28 points (10-16 FG) with 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
Yevgen Sakhniuk is behind with 15 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks. Vincent Nguyen and Le Tran Dang Huynh scored 10 and 13 points respectively in this match.
Pham Hien Tai returned from injury and contributed 6 points and 2 important assists to City Wings, blowing fire into the home team's courageous upstream effort in the 4th half.
In the next match, Saigon Heat will return to the CIS home ground to welcome the representative of the Capital Thang Long Warriors at 19:30 on Saturday, August 19.
One day later, Ho Chi Minh City Wings will come to be a guest on the field of Nha Trang Dolphins at 19:30 on August 20. This continues to be a must-win match of "two eagles" to maintain hope in the 2023 VBA Playoffs.
