The Can Tho Catfish delivered a commanding performance at home on July 16, 2026, defeating the Da Nang Dragons 95–75 in a Vietnam VBA regular-season clash. The Catfish controlled the game from the opening tip, using a balanced offensive attack and tenacious defense to build an insurmountable lead. With this win, Can Tho strengthened its position in the league standings, while Da Nang was left searching for answers after a second consecutive road defeat.

Match Overview

Playing in front of a lively home crowd at the Can Tho Gymnasium, the Catfish came out with clear intensity. They opened the first quarter with a 28–17 run, setting the tone for the rest of the night. The Dragons struggled to find rhythm against Can Tho’s aggressive on-ball pressure, and their perimeter shooting—normally a strength—fell flat, connecting on only 32% from beyond the arc. By halftime, the Catfish had stretched the lead to 18 points, and Da Nang never managed to cut the deficit to single digits in the second half.

Key Moments

• First-Quarter Dominance: The Catfish opened with a 12–2 run in the first four minutes, forcing Da Nang head coach Phan Thanh Hai to call an early timeout. The Dragons adjusted briefly but could not contain Can Tho’s transition game.
• Second-Quarter Surge: With 3:30 left before halftime, Can Tho guard Nguyen Huynh Phu Vinh hit back-to-back three-pointers, extending the lead to 21. The Dragons answered with a quick 6–0 spurt, but the Catfish responded immediately with a dunk from import forward Marcus Johnson.
• Third-Quarter Pushback: Da Nang opened the third quarter on a 9–2 run, pulling to within 13. But Can Tho’s bench provided a spark—reserve guard Tran Minh Hieu scored seven points in the period—and the lead ballooned back to 20 entering the fourth.
• Fourth Quarter Cruise: The Catfish maintained a double-digit lead throughout the final frame, with Johnson throwing down a highlight-reel alley-oop that sealed the crowd’s celebration.

Standout Players

Marcus Johnson (Can Tho Catfish): The American import was a force on both ends, finishing with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks. His inside presence disrupted Da Nang’s pick-and-roll game and drew multiple fouls, resulting in 10-of-12 from the free-throw line.

Nguyen Huynh Phu Vinh (Can Tho Catfish): The local scoring guard added 22 points, including four three-pointers. His ability to stretch the floor opened driving lanes for Johnson and kept the Dragons' defense scrambling.

Duong Minh Anh (Da Nang Dragons): The veteran point guard led his team with 19 points and 7 assists, but his efforts were undermined by poor support. No other Dragon reached double figures until the fourth quarter.

Tactical Story

Can Tho head coach Le Quoc Chuong employed a switch-heavy defense that neutralized Da Nang’s screening actions. The Dragons thrive on off-ball movement and mid-range jumpers, but the Catfish closed out hard on shooters and forced Da Nang into contested shots. Offensively, Can Tho moved the ball crisply, recording 24 assists versus 11 turnovers. Their half-court sets often featured Johnson as a roll man, while the guards spotted up or cut backdoor.

Da Nang’s struggles were compounded by foul trouble: starting center Tran Quoc Trung picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter and was limited to just 22 minutes. Without his rim protection, Can Tho scored 52 points in the paint.

Season Impact

With the win, the Can Tho Catfish improved to 8–2 on the season, moving into second place in the VBA standings behind the Saigon Heat. The Dragons fell to 5–5, slipping to fifth. For Can Tho, this victory continues a three-game winning streak and reinforces their credentials as a championship contender. Da Nang will need to regroup quickly before hosting the Nha Trang Dolphins next week.