The match took place at 1 p.m. at Children's Palace Campus 2, 17 Pham Hung, witnessed by about 500 spectators, including students, teachers, and parents from both schools.

Phan Dinh Phung demonstrated their composure during critical moments late in the game to successfully defend the title they won last year, despite trailing at several points. Including the two-region friendly championship in may, the Phan Dinh Phung High School women's team has now secured three consecutive championships within the VnExpress Youth Basketball Tournament - Ziaja Cup series.

Dinh Ngoc Phuong Linh (white jersey, Phan Dinh Phung) drives to the basket during the final. Giang Huy

Quarter one was intense, with both teams playing an aggressive offense from the opening possessions. The defending champions repeatedly drew fouls to earn free throws. However, their advantage quickly vanished after a confident three-point shot from Ly Bao Huong of Vinschool The Harmony.

Not to be outdone, Ha Thu (number 95) from Phan Dinh Phung responded with an accurate three-point shot, electrifying the atmosphere in the arena. A combined effort from Ly Ha My and Dong Minh Anh added two points for Vinschool The Harmony, but in the final seconds of the quarter, Ha Thu sank another precise three-pointer, allowing Phan Dinh Phung to end quarter one with a 9-6 lead.

Moving into quarter two, the defending champions continued to display their experience with three-point shots. Dong Nhu An (number 8), Vu Duong Bao Thy (number 98), and Chu Thuy An (number 15) successively scored from long range, while Harmony managed only four points in this quarter.

Captain Dinh Ngoc Phuong Linh (Phan Dinh Phung) was closely guarded but remained a key player, stretching the defense and creating space for teammates to score. After the first two quarters, Phan Dinh Phung maintained an 11-4 lead.

Vu Duong Bao Thy in a contest with a Vinschool The Harmony women's player. Giang Huy

Quarter three saw a more balanced game as both teams traded blows and fiercely contested every rebound. Harmony tried to narrow the gap, while Phan Dinh Phung maintained their composure in scoring. The quarter concluded with a 12-12 tie, bringing the total score after three quarters to 29-25, with the defending champions still holding the advantage.

Phan Dinh Phung's championship mettle was evident in the final quarter. They maintained firm possession, tightened their defense, limiting Vinschool The Harmony's scoring opportunities, and capitalized on opponent errors to control the boards and score from rebounds. Ultimately, Phan Dinh Phung secured a 37-29 victory.

Vu Duong Bao Thy (Phan Dinh Phung) was named Most Valuable Player (MVP). Despite her lack of physical advantage, Thy was agile, aggressive, and dictated the game's pace effectively.

The Phan Dinh Phung High School women's team celebrates after winning the final match. Giang Huy

Speaking after the match, coach Vu Ha Thu (Phan Dinh Phung) praised the opponent: "Vinschool The Harmony was the strongest team we have ever faced. However, thanks to proper physical conditioning, team spirit, and maintaining confidence during play, our team won its third championship in the tournament."

Phan Dinh Phung's repeated championship win at the VnExpress Youth Basketball Tournament - Ziaja Cup was not a surprise, as they are consistently among the top contenders. However, their path to this year's title was much more challenging due to the emergence of many strong new teams. This year, the tournament expanded to 36 teams, up from 24 last year.

For Vinschool The Harmony, reaching the final is a proud achievement for this young team. Despite being newly established, their structured organization and regular competition quickly propelled them to become one of Hanoi's strongest schoolgirl basketball teams.

The VnExpress Youth Basketball Tournament 2025 - Ziaja Cup is organized by VnExpress Newspaper and FPT Online Joint Stock Company (FPT Online), with professional oversight from the Vietnam Basketball Federation. The tournament is part of the national project "Developing school basketball until 2030." Information about the tournament is updated on its official fanpage and website.

Hai Long