After claiming their first NBL1 East championship, the Maitland Mustangs are confident they can beat the nation’s best teams this weekend.
After back-to-back losses in the NBL1 East Grand Final, the Mustangs finally got over the hump in 2024, defeating their rivals in the Canberra Gunners 86-67 in the largest win of the eight Grand Finals last Saturday.
With the team’s proof of concept confirmed and riding an all-time high, the Mustangs head into the National Finals as a clear contender.
Back-to-back NBL1 East MVP and now Finals MVP William Cranston-Lown explained the National Finals will be a great test not only for him, but his team.
“I can’t wait, there’s some really good players up there,” he told Caleb Fogarty.
“It will be good to see where we sit with really stacked NBL-calibre players.”
Coach Boyle added that this has been the objective all season.
“I’m pretty confident, it’s good when you see the weightings they’ve done because we don’t have an NBL player, But we’ve managed to beat teams and compete with teams and I think we’ll be competitive (this) week,” he said.
“It’s the next thing up, and our whole goal at the start of the year was to be at Nationals. Not just compete, but to try and win it.”
The major difference this season from the previous two was Christian Little. The defensive stopper was Cranston-Lown’s teammate in college and recruited him to come play for the Mustangs in 2024.
Bringing exactly what they need, his confidence has empowered the group, leading them to their first title. Speaking with NBL Media, Little explained they don’t fear anyone heading into the Sunshine Coast.
“When we play how we’ve been playing to go on this Grand Finals run to end the season, I’m taking us against anybody in the country,” he said.
“I’m excited to go up against the best of each conference.”
The Mustangs will take on the defending champion Knox Raiders on Friday to start the National Finals, tune in live and free from 3:30pm AEST via NBL1.com.au, NBL1 App and Kayo Freebies.
Get your tickets to the 2024 Mitsubishi Motor NBL1 National Finals below.
For further information on the official destination of the National Finals, head to www.visitsunshinecoast.com
