After weeks of evaluation and screening, the list of Vietnamese basketball players for the first qualifying round of the FIBA Asian Cup was announced by the Vietnam Basketball Federation (VBF) with 12 athletes including: Justin Young, Nguyen Huynh Phu Vinh , Vo Kim Ban, Du Minh An, Nguyen Phuc Vinh, Tran Khoa Dang, Le Hieu Thanh, Nguyen Van Hung, Dang Thai Hung, Huynh Vinh Quang, Tran Minh Hieu and Dinh Thanh Sang.
The Vietnamese basketball team has arrived in Mongolia, ready for the Asian qualifiers
According to this list, except for 3 names Vinh Quang (born in 1999), Minh Hieu (1998) and Phuc Vinh (2002), the remaining pitchers are all familiar faces who have played at least once. Vietnam basketball team. The head coach at this campaign is Mr. Matt Van Pelt and assistant Le Tran Minh Nghia. It is known that coach Matt Van Pelt has just won the VBA 2022 championship with Saigon Heat Club (for the third time in a row). Besides, the American expert was also the character who helped the Vietnamese basketball team win the first silver medal in the 3×3 basketball content at the 31st SEA Games (May 2022).
Justin Young (left) is officially recognized by FIBA as an internal soldier
Prominent in the list above is captain Justin Young. The Vietnamese-born pioneer from the US returned to Vietnam to compete in the VBA professional basketball tournament from the first season in 2016. After nearly 7 years of working with his hometown basketball, the pitcher born in 1993 was officially FIBA (League of Nations). International Basketball Association) recognized as internal soldiers. “FIBA has confirmed that Justin Young – Duong Vinh Luan is eligible to become a domestic player of Vietnam in all tournaments under the FIBA system according to the review criteria”, VBF announced.
The Vietnamese basketball team was present in Mongolia on the afternoon of 8.11, ready for the first qualifying round of the FIBA Asia tournament. The Vietnamese players will have 2 days of practice, getting used to the climate and field conditions before entering the first match on November 10 against Tahiti.
Huynh Vinh Quang, Nguyen Phuc Vinh, Tran Minh Hieu (from left to right) first time playing for the Vietnamese basketball team
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With the first time after nearly 60 years (since 1965) returning to the continental level, captain Justin Young could not hide his pride: “Being a member of the Vietnamese basketball team at this tournament is a pleasure. It is very special because we have worked tirelessly for 6 years to take Vietnamese basketball further. This lineup represents the effort that we have put in over the years to be able to prove that Vietnam can now compete with other basketball at the continental level.”
List and schedule of matches of the Vietnamese basketball team in the Asian qualifiers
In the first qualifying round of FIBA Asia 2025, the Vietnamese team is in the same group D with Mongolia (the host), Tahiti, Thailand and Malaysia. In order to progress to the second qualifying round, the Red & Gold boys (red flag with yellow star) need a minimum of third place after a round-robin play against the same groups.
Schedule of FIBA Asia Preliminary Round 2025:
10.11
Vietnam vs Tahiti
12.11
Vietnam vs Thailand
11/13
Vietnam vs Mongolia
11/14
Vietnam vs Malaysia
