The excitement is building for the 2025 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 East Finals, set for Saturday, 16th August at the Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre.
The day kicks off with the Women’s Grand Final, featuring the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles taking on Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence at 2:00 PM. Following an intense battle, the Men’s Grand Final will see the Illawarra Hawks face off against the Canberra Gunners at 5:30 PM.
Tickets for each game are sold separately at $22 each, plus GST, and are moving quickly.
For Women’s tickets, CLICK HERE, and for Men’s tickets please, CLICK HERE.
After each game, there will be an on-court presentation. Once the presentation concludes, all attendees must exit the venue. If you hold tickets for both games, BNSW staff will scan your ticket for re-entry to ensure smooth transitions and a great experience for everyone.
Entry times for ticket holders:
- Women’s Grand Final: Approximately 1:15 PM
- Men’s Grand Final: Approximately 4:45 PM
Both matchups are shaping up to be a treat, with the Illawarra Hawks and Canberra Gunners dancing around each other all season.
Hawks star Todd Blanchfield and Gunners swiss-army-knife Will Mayfield carried much of the MVP conversation, while Illawarra point guard Kobe McDowell-White and Canberra big man Glenn Morrison joined their respective team MVPs in the NBL1 East All-Star Five.
The rivalry even spilled beyond the court, with Hawks coach Matt Flinn and Gunners head coach Peter Herak dueling it out over Coach of the Year honours.
Herak ultimately took out the award, but Flinn would not have looked out of place as the winner, turning the Hawks around from a 2-18 outfit last year into 15-5 Minor Premiers this season.
Flinn reflected on his team’s remarkable turnaround this year, spearheaded by newly crowned NBL1 East MVP Blanchfield. “This team won two games last year, so we sort of didn’t expect to have as much success as early as we had,” Flinn said.
“Bringing in a guy like Todd Blanchfield, who’s a bit of a cheat code at the moment at this level, helps. The way he’s approached every practice has certainly had an effect on a lot of the younger guys and the fringe guys we’ve got.”
In the Women’s game, there was little surprise when the 18-2 Minor Premiers, riding a 16-game winning streak, Manly, secured their Grand Final qualification. The Centre of Excellence’s appearance in this year’s big dance, however, was more of a shock.
The league’s Cinderella Story stumbled into the playoffs dropping to fifth, going 2-6 in their final 8 games.
However, through the course of the finals, COE toppled two top-four teams on the road, with a huge win happening last weekend against championship favourites the Norths Bears at the Bear Cave
With a young roster highlighted by standout talents Sitaya Fagan (Defensive Player of the Year, Youth Player of the Year, and All-Star Five member) and captain Zara Russell, they both showed maturity well beyond their years throughout this finals run, as has the rest of the squad during this remarkable run.
Needless to say, the future of Australian women’s hoops is in good hands.
However, it will be a tall task to take down the Minor Premiers, who, when locked in, are arguably one of the most entertaining teams to watch, not just in the NBL1 East, but across the entire NBL1.
All-Star Five member and Runner-up MVP for Manly, Taylor Wurtz, spoke about how much she wants to win this championship for her teammates after the last few years of heartbreak for the squad.
“It would be awesome, honestly, for the team because I feel so invested in them,” Wurtz said.
“Just hearing the stories, like, ‘OK, well this year we went 20 and 0, and then we lost against this team,’ or ‘we just came up short against Norths in the finals’, I’ve been hearing it since I got here.”
Wurtz also highlighted that, although the Centre of Excellence may be a surprise opponent this weekend, the Minor Premiers won’t be taking them lightly or letting the past results affect their performance this Saturday.
“We’re just focused. We’re gonna treat it like any other game, completely focused on playing together as a team, staying true to our identity while we’re playing against them, and not letting the big game rattle us. But definitely, we’re not taking anything lightly.”
Enhance your game day experience with a selection of food trucks and a bar available on-site. Fans can also enjoy activations throughout the day, making it a fun event for all ages. Please note that parking is limited due to JPL Finals happening at the venue, so please plan accordingly.
We are delighted to welcome Eric Stephens, court announcer for the Sydney Kings and Flames, who will bring energy and excitement to the crowd throughout the afternoon, with quarter-time, halftime, and three-quarter-time shows presented in partnership with 2K, Mitsubishi Motors, and Red Bull.
For those unable to attend in person, both games will be televised live thanks to Kayo Sports. Commentating the Women’s Grand Final will be Lachy France and Lachie Beavis, followed by Matt McQuade and Mark Schiralli calling the Men’s game.
For the latest updates and more information, visit the Basketball NSW website and follow us on social media. We look forward to seeing you on this thrilling day of basketball!
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, 16th August 2025
Location: Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre
Doors Open: 1:15 PM (Women’s Grand Final ticket holders only)
Game Schedule:
- Women’s Grand Final: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles vs. Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence – 2:00 PM
- Men’s Grand Final: Illawarra Hawks vs. Canberra Gunners – 5:30 PM