Nha Trang Dolphins is the youngest team of VBA. In the first season established at VBA 2020, the basketball representative of the coastal city stopped at the group stage with a record of 4 wins and 8 defeats. In the following year, at the experimental matches of VBA 2021, “Út Phins” (nicknamed Nha Trang Dolphins) took a step back when he was completely defeated in all 10 opening matches. In the third year at VBA 2022, with the guidance of Coach Todd Purves, Nha Trang Dolphins gradually regained the trust of the fans. Accordingly, in the opening match of the group stage of VBA 2022, the beach team shocked when they overcame the defending champion Saigon Heat – the number one champion candidate with a score of 77-80. Gaining momentum, in the next matches, Nha Trang Dolphins continued to win against strong VBA teams such as Ho Chi Minh City Wings, Thang Long Warriors, Cantho Catfish…
Nha Trang Dolphins (right) are the only team in VBA 2022 to beat the champion Saigon Heat, not once but twice
Nha Trang Dolphins became a new phenomenon thanks to a deep lineup and rookie performances. In which, the most prominent is the Vietnamese-born pioneer Dominique Tham. Dominique Tham’s ability to stir up the near-basket area gives teammates plenty of space to finish. In addition, internal soldiers like Huynh Vinh Quang, Son Minh Tam… also achieved high performance. Thanks to the comprehensiveness in the inner and outer ring areas, there was a time when Nha Trang Dolphins competed for the top position in the rankings and was evaluated as a championship candidate. However, in the middle of the season, coach Todd Purves and his team fell into a low note when foreign pillar Flenard Whitfield was injured. Without the giant 2m02 tall and 105kg heavy, Nha Trang Dolphins began to fall into a series of consecutive defeats.
Dominique Tham (white shirt) is the inspiration to play football for the Nha Trang Dolphins team
\n
Lost, but thanks to the improvisation of coach Todd Purves, Nha Trang Dolphins promptly activated a short-term contract with defender Avery Scharer. The presence of a high-class pitcher helped the home team of Nha Trang University to participate in the VBA semi-finals. At the first time going into the knockout round of the tournament, the Nha Trang Dolphins continued to have problems when it was the turn of another main foreign player, Cleveland Jackson, to be injured. Without the director in charge of the gameplay, Nha Trang Dolphins were knocked out 2-0 by Hanoi Buffaloes in the semi-final series.
Huynh Vinh Quang was honored in the category of the best internal soldier VBA 2022
Closing VBA 2022, many players of Nha Trang Dolphins have reaped important nominations and awards. In particular, rookie Dominique Tham won the most favorite athlete award and received two nominations in the categories of outstanding defensive athlete of the year and Vietnamese-born athlete of the year. Defender Huynh Vinh Quang continued to have a successful year when he was honored as the best internal soldier and a nomination in the category of progressive athlete of the year. Two young players Nguyen Viet My and Son Minh Tam also received nominations in the categories of rookie athlete of the year and reserve athlete of the year, respectively. Foreign soldier Cleveland Jackson won the end of the year basketball award and received a nomination for best athlete of the year. Coach Todd Purves was honored to receive the title of Coach of the Year thanks to the “miracle” that brought the Nha Trang Dolphins from a defeated team to a championship candidate.
