VNPAY backed Public Security wins National U20 Basketball championship

The People’s Public Security Basketball Club captured the 2026 National 5×5 U20 Youth Basketball Championship title after defeating U20 Air Defense – Air Force PEAK 90-79 in the final, overcoming an earlier group-stage loss to claim the trophy, vietnam.vn reported.

Championship Final and Scoring Breakdown

The final matched the Public Security side against the Air Defense – Air Force PEAK squad, which had handed CAND a defeat during group play. The opening two quarters saw both teams trade leads before U20 PK-KQ PEAK carried a 43-39 advantage into halftime. The game shifted decisively in the third quarter when CAND orchestrated an 11-2 run, erasing the deficit to take a 60-51 lead into the final period.

CAND maintained its advantage down the stretch by shooting 46.7% from the field and converting fast-break opportunities into 20 points—double the output of their opponents. Despite a late push by PK-KQ PEAK in the fourth quarter, CAND closed out the 90-79 victory. Khanh An led the attack with 18 points, supported by Duc Duy with 17 points and Minh Anh with 16 points.

Group Stage Adversity and Semifinal Thriller

Coached by Khac Hung and backed by VNPAY, the U20 Public Security team navigated a demanding tournament path to reach the championship game. A closely contested group-stage matchup against U20 PK-KQ PEAK resulted in CAND’s only blemish of the preliminary round, placing them second in their group.

The semifinal test against U20 Ho Chi Minh City provided the tournament’s most dramatic sequence. Trailing for much of the contest, CAND mounted a late comeback that culminated with just four seconds remaining on the game clock, when Quang Vu sank two critical free throws to secure the victory and a spot in the title match.

Team Unity and Tournament Legacy

Team representatives noted that the championship was built on collective execution rather than individual statistics alone, pointing to defensive consistency, shared ball movement, and composure under pressure. The tournament run marked a complete recovery from their earlier group-stage setback against the same Air Defense – Air Force finalists, validating the roster’s resilience through high-stakes moments.