Vietnam Basketball Association

Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA)

Current season, competition or edition: 2016 VBA season
Sport	Basketball
Founded	2016
Inaugural season	2016
Commissioner	Tonichi Pujante
No. of teams	5
Country	Vietnam
Continent	FIBA Asia (Asia)
Most recent champion(s)	Danang Dragons (1st title)
Most titles	Danang Dragons (1 title)
Official website	www.vba.vn

The Vietnam Basketball Association (Vietnamese: Giải Bóng Rổ Chuyên Nghiệp Việt Nam), often abbreviated as VBA, is a Vietnamese national professional basketball league founded in 2016.^[1]

History

The formation of the VBA was announced by charter team Saigon Heat following their completion of the 2015–16 ASEAN Basketball League season.^[1] Leading up to the inaugural season, the VBA expected 6 teams would compete in the new league.^[2] However, only 5 teams were officially unveiled. To oversee league operations, the VBA looked to the Philippines to find someone with an extensive basketball background.^[3] Tonichi Pujante was named the inaugural league commissioner.^[4]

Teams

Buffaloes

Dragons

Heat
Wings

Catfish

Locations of the VBA teams

The VBA started its inaugural season with 5 teams.

Team	City, Region	Arena	Founded	Joined	Head Coach
Cantho Catfish	Ninh Kiều District, Cần Thơ	Can Tho Arena	2016		David Singleton
Danang Dragons	Đà Nẵng	Quan Khu 5 Arena	2016		Donte' Hill
Hanoi Buffaloes	Hai Bà Trưng District, Hà Nội	Bach Khoa Arena	2016		Todd Purves
Hochiminh City Wings	District 3, Ho Chi Minh City	Ho Xuan Huong Sports Arena	2016		Mika Turunen
Saigon Heat	District 7, Ho Chi Minh City	CIS Arena	2011	2016	Tony Garbelotto

Regular season

Following the summer break, the preseason begins typically in July. During this time, the teams build their 13-man rosters with each team allowed 1 foreign, 2 Overseas Vietnamese, and 10 local players.^[2] The VBA regular season currently begins at the beginning of August and runs to the end of the October. Each teams plays 16 games, divided equally between home and away matches.

Playoffs

At the conclusion of the regular, the VBA Playoffs begins. All 5 teams are eligible for the tournament style playoffs. However, the teams that finish in the #4 and #5 seeds must meet each other in a wildcard game to move on to the playoffs. The winner of the game meets the #1 seeded team and the #2 seeded team meets the #3 seeded team in a best-of-three series. The winners move on to meet in the VBA Finals.

League championships

Current teams that have no VBA Finals appearances:

• Cantho Catfish
• Hanoi Buffaloes
• Saigon Heat

See also

• Sport in Vietnam
• Vietnam national basketball team

References

External links

• Official website

International men's basketball
FIBA National teams Olympics World Cup Universiade U-21 World Championship U-19 World Championship U-17 World Championship World Rankings
Africa	FIBA Africa – AfroBasket U-18 U-16 African Games
Americas	FIBA Americas – FIBA Americas Championship U-18 U-16 CBC Championship Centrobasket COCABA Championship Marchand Cup Pan American Games South American Championship
Asia	FIBA Asia – FIBA Asia Cup U-18 U-16 Asian Games FIBA Asia Challenge MVP Cup Stanković Cup East Asian Games South Asian Games Southeast Asian Games West Asian Games William Jones Cup
Europe	FIBA Europe – EuroBasket U-20 U-18 U-16 Acropolis Tournament Adecco Cup Albert Schweitzer Tournament Belgrade Trophy TBF International Under-16 Tournament World Cup (Turkey)
Oceania	FIBA Oceania – FIBA Oceania Championship U-20 U-18 U-16 Pacific Games
Other tournaments	Commonwealth Games Diamond Ball FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament Lusophony Games Mediterranean Games Pan Arab Games
Note: The Under-21 Championship is no longer held.