From Awards Night to Grand Final Glory

The 2025 NBL1 South season wrapped up in fitting style with a weekend of celebration, recognition and championship basketball.

It all began on Friday night with our annual NBL1 South Awards Night, hosted at The Timberyard.

The venue provided a stunning backdrop for one of the most anticipated evenings on the calendar, and I want to thank the Timberyard staff for their professionalism and support in bringing the night together.

Awards Night has always been about more than trophies for me. It is about recognising the people who elevate our game, whether they are athletes, coaches, referees or administrators.

Seeing Geelong’s Jaz Shelley and Melbourne’s Tom Wilson named our Most Valuable Players was a proud moment, but even more special was watching the whole room acknowledge the breadth of talent and contribution that makes this league what it is.

To see players of that calibre rewarded in front of their peers shows the strength and depth of NBL1 South. (NBL 1 South 2025 Awards Night Recap)

On Saturday, all eyes turned to Grand Final Day at the State Basketball Centre. The delivery of the event was the result of so many people working tirelessly behind the scenes.

Knox event team played a crucial role in assisting with venue setup, Brian Dunkley Smith ensured seamless digital support, Ian Knight and his photography team captured the occasion, and Jess and Kaitlyn Peterson, Shane Prather and Sarah Pretty brought it to life with their digital content, along with Troy Daniel and the Superhoodz crew whose entertainment activations added so much energy to the day.

I am so grateful for everyone’s work. What makes days like this possible is the teamwork of so many people whose contributions the fans rarely see. From setup to content capture, everything came together to showcase our game at the highest level.

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On the court, the competition delivered two championship performances that will be remembered for a long time. In the Women’s decider, the Knox Raiders denied Geelong United an unbeaten season with a brilliant display of defensive intensity, and Paige Bradley was recognised as Grand Final MVP for her commanding effort. For Knox, it was their first women’s championship since 2013. (NBL1 South 2025 Women's Grand Final Recap)

In the Men’s contest, played before a sold out crowd, the Sandringham Sabres overcame a 17 point deficit to surge past the Melbourne Tigers, capturing their first South championship and their first senior title since 2005. Captain Tom Koppens was fittingly named Grand Final MVP after his 26 point, 15 rebound effort that epitomised the fight and resilience of his team. (NBL1 South 2025 Men's Grand Final Recap)

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Grand Final Day is about more than who lifts the trophy. It is about celebrating the journey, the communities that support our clubs, and the volunteers and staff who make it possible for the players to shine. That is what I was most proud of on Saturday, the way our league came together to put on a show worthy of the talent on the floor.

Now, with our South champions crowned, attention turns to the NBL1 National Finals in Canberra. After one weekend off, the Knox Raiders Women and Sandringham Sabres Men will proudly carry the NBL1 South banner on the national stage, joined by the Waverley Falcons Women, the reigning 2024 NBL1 National Finals champions.

Sadly, the Knox Raiders Men, who claimed the 2024 National Finals crown, will not compete this year due to player unavailability. This league continues to set the bar, and now our champions have the chance to test themselves against the very best from across Australia. I could not be prouder.

Alison Cody - NBL1 South League Manager