With the theme "Inspiring A New Generation - Where Talent reaches legendary levels", VBA 2026 continues to aim for sustainable development, creating conditions for young talents to access a professional competition environment and improve the quality of the tournament.
The highlight of this year's season is the Draft Combine Series 2026 recruitment program implemented nationwide, expanding opportunities for young athletes. In addition, the organizers also adjusted regulations on classifying and using athletes to increase competitiveness, while promoting the role of domestic players.
Another notable change is FPT Play becoming the production and broadcasting unit of VBA in the 2026-2030 period. According to the organizers, the matches will be upgraded in terms of image quality, recording system and interactive features for audiences on digital platforms.
Right after the opening ceremony was the opening match between defending champion Hanoi Buffaloes and runner-up Nha Trang Dolphins. The Capital team soon took the lead when leading 32-23 after the first half thanks to the brilliance of Lian Ramiro and Dinh Thanh Tam.
In the 2nd half, foreign player AJ Bramah continued to make his mark on the attacking front, helping Hanoi Buffaloes widen the gap to 57-41 before halftime. Although Nha Trang Dolphins had a time to narrow the gap in the 3rd half thanks to the effectiveness of Vo Huy Hoan and foreign players, the away team still could not create a comeback.
In the final round, the defending champion maintained a dominant game to close the match with a convincing 116-92 victory. AJ Bramah was voted the best player of the match with 40 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 interceptions.
According to the regulations, VBA 2026 continues to compete in a home-away format with the participation of 6 clubs including Hanoi Buffaloes, Danang Dragons, Nha Trang Dolphins, Saigon Heat, Ho Chi Minh City Wings and Cantho Catfish. The season is expected to last from May 21 to September 30, including the group stage, semi-finals and finals.
Full VBA 2026 season on FPT Play.
