The match marks a highly anticipated reunion between Viet Duc and Nguyen Binh Khiem, two schools with a history of competing in student tournaments and facing each other. One notable encounter was in the 2021 Hanoi Student Basketball Tournament, where Viet Duc, then the defending champion, lost to Nguyen Binh Khiem (26-31) in their opening match and was eliminated early.
In the group stage of the VnExpress Youth Basketball Tournament 2025 - Ziaja Cup, Viet Duc defeated Doan Ket - Hai Ba Trung with a full-court press strategy. This victory, combined with favorable results in subsequent matches, helped them secure the top spot in Group E in their debut appearance at the tournament. Meanwhile, Nguyen Binh Khiem defeated Vinschool Times City, then caused an upset by eliminating defending champion Phan Dinh Phung with a decisive 31-13 victory in Group F. They are known as a well-rounded team capable of managing their energy effectively throughout all four quarters.
This matchup is highly anticipated not only due to the teams' history of encounters but also because of their contrasting styles. While Viet Duc typically favors an offensive approach, Nguyen Binh Khiem prioritizes solidity and discipline.
The VnExpress Youth Basketball Tournament 2025 - Ziaja Cup is organized by VnExpress Newspaper and FPT Online Services 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."
The group stage began on 31/10, featuring 36 teams from high schools across Hanoi. This included 24 boys' teams divided into 8 groups and 12 girls' teams divided into four groups. Teams competed in a single round-robin format, with group winners advancing to the quarterfinals (boys' category) and semifinals (girls' category).
The tournament is accompanied by the Polish pharmaceutical-cosmetic brand Ziaja, distributed in Vietnam by Bac Ninh Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company and European Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Group (EUPC).
Lan Anh
