NBL1 Men’s Illawarra Hawks awarded Wildcard entry to NBL1 National Championships

The Illawarra Basketball Association is proud to announce that the Illawarra Hawks NBL1 Men’s team has secured the coveted wildcard entry to the upcoming NBL1 National Championships, to be held in Canberra from August 29–31, 2025.

The Championships will bring together the five conference winners from across Australia alongside the wildcard selection, providing a stage for the best teams in the country to compete for national glory.

Illawarra Basketball Association Executive General Manager, Nathan Loveday said how the wildcard is an exciting achievement for the region.

“We’re extremely excited about the opportunity for our program to compete at the NBL1 Nationals through the wildcard entry. Off the back of a successful NBL1 East season, this is a fantastic chance to showcase the strength of our club on the national stage and continue building on the momentum our players, coaches and community have created this year.”

Illawarra’s wildcard selection is recognition of the Hawks’ outstanding season in the NBL1 East competition, where they finished with the Minor Premiership. The opportunity to compete on the national stage is a testament to the strength of the Illawarra basketball community and the Hawks’ ongoing commitment to high-performance basketball.

Head of Basketball, Ben Bagoly, expressed what impact a local association playing on the national stage has on the junior players at IBA.

“This is a huge opportunity for our program. Being invited to the NBL1 National Finals as East Minor Premiers is a reward for the work our group has put in all year. More importantly, it shows our juniors and pathway players what it means to compete on a national stage. We’re excited to embrace the challenge and proudly represent Illawarra in Canberra.”

The Hawks will travel to Canberra next week to represent both the Illawarra region and the NBL1 East conference, with fixtures scheduled across the three-day tournament.

Fans can follow the team’s journey through the NBL1 livestream and Illawarra Basketball Association’s social media channels.

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