After winning through to the semi-final against all expectations, Canberra’s NBL1 National title defence ended at the hands of the new National Champions.

After a magnificent opening night win that proved there was still life in the reigning title-holders just yet, the Canberra Gunners’ NBL1 National Finals campaign for 2026 came to end at the semi-final stage.

Coming into the Final seeded 6th behind the five NBL1 league winners, the Gunners weren’t expected to progress much further than simply making the trip to Adelaide.

But after stunning NBL1 West champions, the Rockingham Flames (seeded 3rd), people and teams at the State Basketball Centre quickly realised that the Gunners weren’t just there for a long weekend in the City of Churches.

The Gunners started superbly to lead by 10 after the first period and 62-39 at halftime, and then withheld everything the Flames threw at them in the second half to win by 17, 110 to 93.

Will Mayfield starred in the win for Canberra with 29 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists with 14/15 shooting at the foul line.

Darnell Hoskins Jnr added 18 points and four assists with 4/8 three-point shooting; Cam Pender had 18 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals; Lachie Smith 15 points, two boards and two steals, and James Toohey nine points, six rebounds and six assists.

CANBERRA GUNNERS 110 (Will Mayfield 29, Cam Pender 18, Darnell Hoskins Jnr 18)

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 93 (Blake Jones 45, Emmett Naar 20, Ryan Godfrey 12)

Their dominant win sent Canberra through to the semi-finals top-ranked of the four teams, drawn to face NBL1 North winners, the Gold Coast Rollers, who were still licking their wounds from Friday night after going down to NBL1 Central champions and hometown favourites, the Forestville Eagles, 85-84.

Playing with just seven players for the weekend, the Rollers got out of the blocks quickly to establish an early lead, with the Gunners not getting back on even terms until midway through the final quarter.

The Rollers led by 12 after the first quarter and led 50-36 at halftime, and looked well on their way. Gunners coach Pete Herak’s message hit the right chords in the third quarter as the Gunners came back, but the Rollers always seemed to have their nose in front.

Canberra drew level at 73-73 with six minutes to play, only for the Gold Coast kick away immediately, running out 98-90 winners and securing a return battle with Forestville in Sunday’s Final.

For the Gunners, Will Rice and Darnell Hoskins both had 15 points, James Toohey had 14, and Cam Pender had a 14pt-17 rebound double-double.

GOLD COAST ROLLERS 98 (Boston Mazlin 29, Brodie McGregor 17, Cooper Urquhart 15)

CANBERRA GUNNERS 90 (Rice 15, Hoskins 15, Toohey 14, Pender 14)

The Gold Coast would get their revenge over Forestville in Sunday’s Final, where the Rollers overcame their shortened bench and the Eagles’ current and former NBL contingent to claim their maiden National Championship, winning a closely contested match 70-67 in overtime.

Following the Final, Gunners star Will Mayfield was named alongside Daniel Johnson (Forestville), Boston Mazlin (Gold Coast), Blake Jones (Rockingham), and Jeremy Combs (Frankston Blues) in the NBL1 National Finals All-Star Five.

Feature image – Dan Cowley/NBL1