Tall tactics: Forward Nguyen Hoang Phuc (left) of Da Nang tries to throw the ball in during the opening match against HCM City's Tan Binh District in the National U17 Basketball Championships yesterday. Tan Binh District won 39-38. — VNS Photo Hoai NamNguyen Ngoc Quy shot the winning point in the last 10 seconds of the fourth quarter to help Tan Binh District edge host Da Nang 39-38 in the curtain-raiser of the National U17 Basketball Championships yesterday.

The forward scored a point from two free throws. Quy missed the first, but sunk his second to complete the first win for the HCM City-based team.

"It's a thrilling win for us because the hosts had a good game today with crazy support from hundreds of high school students," said Quy.

"We took the lead in the third quarter, but we lost our momentum in the first five minutes of the fourth. However, the team regrouped to win the game," the forward added.

Tan Binh District led 9-7 in the first quarter, but the two sides were tied at 15-15 in the second.

The Saigonese team then took the initiative in the third to edge ahead 29-24.

In the first five minutes of the fourth set, trio Pham Le Trong Thang, Nguyen Hoang Phuc and Ngo Tien Trung scored 13 points in a row to help the hosts take control at 37-36.

But Tan Binh District's Tran Huu Tho and Nguyen Xuan Hoang Trung helped put their side back on level terms at 38-38, and the hosts could have won the game if forward Trung had scored from two free throws.

The championships has draw neight men's and seven women's teams competing in four groups.

The top two from each group will secure semi-final berths.

The winners will walk away with a cash-prize of VND15 million (US$700).

Source:  VNS