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The boys' final between Nguyen Trai - Ba Dinh High School and Marie Curie Hanoi was filled with action, surprises, and intense emotions. Both teams constantly traded the lead, creating a thrilling experience for spectators.
Held at District 6 Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, the match began with high energy as both schools brought large groups of supporters who had traveled from Hanoi. Marie Curie Hanoi opened with six straight points, but Nguyen Trai - Ba Dinh quickly closed the gap. A buzzer-beating three-pointer from mid-court by guard Tong Gia Toan brought the game to within one point and sparked an 18-0 run for Nguyen Trai - Ba Dinh. By midway through the second quarter, they led 29-15.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Toan, their key player, sustained a knee injury and was unable to continue.
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A Marie Curie Hanoi High School player (number 9) goes for a layup during the final against Nguyen Trai - Ba Dinh high school at the VnExpress - Ziaja Cup 2025, held at District 6 Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City on June 1, 2025. Photo courtesy of VYBC |
Without their playmaker, Nguyen Trai - Ba Dinh struggled on both ends of the court. Taking full advantage, Marie Curie narrowed the gap to 22-31 by halftime.
Then came a stunning third quarter. Marie Curie Hanoi scored 25 points, more than in the previous two quarters combined, showing strong offense and tight defense to take a commanding 47-36 lead.
Though the game was still ongoing, many Nguyen Trai - Ba Dinh supporters and players were already in tears. Facing a significant deficit without their star player, they could not recover and fell 46-58.
While Marie Curie Hanoi had not reached the top three in the 2024 edition of the Cup, their championship this year was well-earned. Their balanced lineup powered them through convincing wins over Tri Duc High School, Nguyen Binh Khiem - Hanoi, and Nguyen Trai - Ba Dinh.
In the girls' final, Phan Dinh Phung High School reaffirmed their dominance. After a tight first half, the team pulled away in the third quarter thanks to a scoring surge from Dinh Ngoc Phuong Linh and Vu Duong Bao Thy. They entered the final quarter with a 13-point lead and sealed a 44-26 victory.
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Phan Dinh Phung High School players celebrate their win in the girls' final at the VnExpress - Ziaja Cup 2025, held at District 6 Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City on June 1, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong |
Linh and Thy scored 14 and 23 points respectively, contributing 37 of the team's total. For Linh, the MVP of last year's tournament, it marked her fourth title, following wins at both city and national levels of the Phu Dong Sports Festival and last year's Ziaja Cup.
The tournament also marked a powerful comeback for Thy, who missed last year's edition due to personal reasons. Wearing jersey No. 9, she scored 13, 13, and 23 points in matches against Nguyen Thuong Hien, Kim Lien, and Marie Curie Hanoi, becoming the top scorer in the girls' division. Her outstanding performance, alongside Linh's leadership, helped cover for the absence of several key players.
The VnExpress - Ziaja Cup is an annual school basketball tournament organized by VnExpress and FPT Online, with support from skincare brand Ziaja. It promotes physical activity, mental well-being, and holistic development among high school students.
This year marked the first time the tournament expanded to both northern and southern regions, featuring 16 teams from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
HCMC teams were invited based on their strong track records, while Hanoi's participants were the top four from last year's northern tournament.
Held from May 30 to June 1 in HCMC, the event offered over VND100 million (US$3,930) in total prizes, evenly split between the boys' and girls' brackets. The champions earned a trophy, gold medals, a banner of honor, and VND20 million. Runners-up received silver medals, a banner, and VND15 million, while third-place teams were awarded bronze medals, a banner, and VND10 million.
