List of ABA National Champions

The Australian Basketball Association (ABA) National Finals was the finals series of the ABA contested between the best teams from the affiliated conferences. The National Finals were held every year between 1981 and 2008 except for 2001, when the event was cancelled due to the collapse of Ansett Airlines.[1][2]

The ABA's roots can be traced back as far as 1965, and had a rich history until its demise in 2008. The ABA had a sole South/East conference from 1981 to 1985, then separate South and East conferences from 1986 to 1993. A South/East women's conference was introduced for the first time in 1990. In 1994, a North conference was included, which was followed by a Central conference in 1998, a Big V conference in 2000, and a Waratah conference in 2001. By 2001, the ABA consisted of six men's conferences and five women's conferences.

The ABA National Finals became known as the Australian Club Championships (ACC) in 2007 and continued on as such in 2008. Following the 2008 season, Basketball Australia's Competitions Commission took over the management of all state-based leagues and competitions from 2009 onward, thus disbanding the ABA and leaving its affiliated conferences to become independent leagues.

Men

South Eastern Conference roots
YearsSouth Eastern Conference ChampionRef
1965–70Melbourne Church of England[3]
1971–80League abandoned due to annual Australian Club Championships

ABA National Champions
South/East conference
South conference
East conference
North conference
Big V conference
Waratah conference
Year Venue National Champion GF result National Runner-up MVP Ref
1981Albert ParkGeelong Cats97 – 88Frankston Bears[4]
1982Albert ParkFrankston Bears89 – 87Melbourne Tigers[4]
1983Albert ParkMelbourne Tigers114 – 102Bulleen Boomers[4]
1984CoburgBulleen Boomers109 – 108Chelsea Gulls[4]
1985KilsythKilsyth Cobras98 – 87Bulleen Boomers[4]
1986BendigoNewcastle Hunters124 – 117 (OT)Sydney City Slickers[4]
1987DevonportAdelaide Buffalos124 – 102Newcastle Hunters[4]
1988BroadmeadowsBendigo Braves121 – 118Bulleen Boomers[4]
1989KilsythBallarat Miners125 – 119Bendigo Braves[4]
1990Boronia (Knox)Bulleen Boomers128 – 101Ballarat Miners[4]
1991Boronia (Knox)Knox Raiders81 – 79Ballarat Miners[4]
1992Boronia (Knox)Sydney City Comets117 – 90Ballarat Miners[4]
1993KeilorNE Melbourne Arrows124 – 113Murray Bridge Bullets[4][5]
1994BendigoBallarat Miners104 – 81Cairns MarlinsEric Hayes (Ballarat)[4][6]
1995LiverpoolBallarat Miners101 – 86Frankston BluesGrant Keys (Ballarat)[4][7]
1996DevonportNW Tasmania Originals101 – 88Knox RaidersDave Biwer (NW Tasmania)[4]
1997GeelongSuncoast Clippers80 – 78Cairns MarlinsBilly Ross (Suncoast)[4][8]
1998Gold CoastCairns Marlins88 – 74Frankston BluesChris Sneed (Cairns)[4][9][10]
1999CanberraGeelong Supercats98 – 78Kilsyth CobrasRodney Walker (Geelong)[4][11]
2000BendigoHobart Chargers76 – 75Kilsyth CobrasBen Harvey (Hobart)[12][13][14]
2001Not held[lower-alpha 1]
2002BendigoHobart Chargers98 – 93Australian Institute of SportAndrew Beattie (Hobart)[16]
2003BendigoMount Gambier Pioneers127 – 113Ballarat MinersKurt Russell (Mount Gambier)[16]
2004GeelongCairns Marlins104 – 100NW Tasmania ThunderAaron Grabau (Cairns)[16]
2005GeelongBendigo Braves102 – 98Sydney CometsJason Cameron (Bendigo)[16]
2006NewcastleGeelong Supercats94 – 80Dandenong RangersAsh Cannan (Dandenong)[16]
2007MSACCairns Marlins110 – 98Dandenong RangersAaron Grabau (Cairns)[17]
2008MSACRockhampton Rockets103 – 99Hobart ChargersRyan McDade (Rockhampton)[18]

Results by teams
TeamsWinLossTotalYear(s) wonYear(s) lost
Ballarat Miners3361989, 1994, 19951990, 1991, 1992
Cairns Marlins3251998, 2004, 20071994, 1997
Geelong Cats/Supercats3031981, 1999, 2006—
Bulleen Boomers2351984, 19901983, 1985, 1988
Bendigo Braves2131988, 20051989
Hobart Chargers2132000, 20022008
Frankston Bears/Blues13419821981, 1995, 1998
Kilsyth Cobras12319851999, 2000
Sydney City Slickers/Sydney City Comets/Sydney Comets12319921986, 2005
Melbourne Tigers11219831982
Newcastle Hunters11219861987
Knox Raiders11219911996
North-West Tasmania Originals/Thunder11219962004
Adelaide Buffalos1011987—
North East Melbourne Arrows1011993—
Suncoast Clippers1011997—
Mount Gambier Pioneers1012003—
Rockhampton Rockets1012008—
Dandenong Rangers022—2006, 2007
Chelsea Gulls011—1984
Murray Bridge Bullets011—1993
Australian Institute of Sport011—2002

Women

ABA National Champions
South/East conference
North conference
Central conference
Big V conference
Waratah conference
Year Venue National Champion GF result National Runner-up MVP Ref
1990Boronia (Knox)Dandenong Rangers92 – 56Sturt Sabres[4]
1991Boronia (Knox)Dandenong Rangers110 – 64Bayside Blues[4]
1992Boronia (Knox)Knox Raiders92 – 69Bayside Blues[4]
1993KeilorFrankston Blues100 – 85Broadmeadows Broncos[4]
1994BendigoKnox Raiders99 – 79Frankston Blues[4]
1995LiverpoolLaunceston Tornadoes110 – 96Adelaide Opals[4][7]
1996DevonportKnox Raiders86 – 85Launceston Tornadoes[4]
1997GeelongFrankston Blues98 – 69Townsville Sunbirds[4]
1998Gold CoastKilsyth Cobras87 – 69Knox Raiders[4]
1999CanberraSouthern Districts Spartans79 – 69Norwood Flames[4]
2000BendigoBendigo Braves77 – 56Nunawading SpectresKristi Harrower (Bendigo)[12]
2001Not held[lower-alpha 1]
2002BendigoKilsyth Cobras103 – 94 (OT)Sturt SabresJessica Mahony (Sturt)[16]
2003BendigoBendigo Braves91 – 66Forestville EaglesLarissa Cavanagh (Bendigo)[16]
2004GeelongFrankston Blues69 – 66North Adelaide RocketsErin Phillips (North Adelaide)[16]
2005GeelongBallarat Miners77 – 53Knox RaidersAndrea McMahon (Ballarat)[16]
2006NewcastleBallarat Miners69 – 66Bendigo BravesKaren Ashby (Ballarat)[16]
2007MSACTownsville Flames92 – 49Hume City BroncosRohanee Cox (Townsville)[19]
2008MSACTownsville Flames73 – 57Sydney CometsCherie Smith (Townsville)[18]

Results by teams
TeamsWinLossTotalYear(s) wonYear(s) lost
Bayside/Frankston Blues3361993, 1997, 20041991, 1992, 1994
Knox Raiders3251992, 1994, 19961998, 2005
Bendigo Braves2132000, 20032006
Townsville Sunbirds/Flames2132007, 20081997
Dandenong Rangers2021990, 1991—
Kilsyth Cobras2021998, 2002—
Ballarat Miners2022005, 2006—
Launceston Tornadoes11219951996
Southern Districts Spartans1011999—
Sturt Sabres022—1990, 2002
Broadmeadows Broncos011—1993
Adelaide Opals011—1995
Norwood Flames011—1999
Nunawading Spectres011—2000
Forestville Eagles011—2003
North Adelaide Rockets011—2004
Hume City Broncos011—2007
Sydney Comets011—2008

See also

Notes
  1. The 2001 National Finals were scheduled for Bendigo, however the demise of Ansett saw the difficult decision taken to cancel the Finals. The decision was made only as a last resort after all contingencies were evaluated.[15]

References
  1. Whalen, Patrick F. "Experience Conquers Youth". chargers.customer.netspace.net.au. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  2. Magnay, Jacquelin (23 October 2004). "Ansett's slam dunk on sports companies". SMH.com.au. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  3. "FLASHBACK 21: SEBL Finals, Sept.20, 1986". BotiNagy.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  4. "ABA PREMIER AND RUNNERS-UP CLUBS". ABABasketball.net.au. Archived from the original on 7 April 2001.
  5. "FROM THE VAULT - 1993 CBA FINAL - MURRAY BRIDGE vs NE MELBOURNE". SEABL.com.au. 18 January 2011. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017.
  6. "FROM THE VAULT - 1994 CBA GRAND FINAL - BALLARAT v CAIRNS". SEABL.com.au. 14 October 2010. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017.
  7. "1995 CBA Mens Final Frankston Vs Ballarat". YouTube.com. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  8. Peacock, Harold (14 January 1998). "CBA champions reload". reocities.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  9. "1998 CBA Mens Finals Homepage". oocities.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  10. "1998 CBA National Final Frankston Vs Cairns". YouTube.com. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  11. Ractliffe, Damien (12 June 2019). "Geelong Supercats: 1999 imports Rod Walker, Clyde Jordan in town to celebrate 20-year championship reunion". geelongadvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 21 January 2020. SUPERCATS great Rod Walker says the camaraderie of the 1999 championship team made flying back to Australia for the 20-year reunion a no-brainer. The star American import played an unbelievable finals series for the Supercats to help his side win the Australian Basketball Association title in 1999, to claim the most valuable player of the series.
  12. "2000 Australian Basketball Association National Champions Final Four Results". ababasketball.net.au. Archived from the original on 18 October 2000.
  13. "FROM THE SEABL VAULT - 2000 ABA FINAL - HOBART vs KILSYTH". SEABL.com.au. 19 November 2010. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017.
  14. "Harvey eyes fourth SEABL title". BendigoAdvertiser.com.au. 11 August 2005. Retrieved 26 June 2017. That encounter was the 2000 ABA national finals in Bendigo when Harvey was named MVP as he led Hobart to a thrilling one-point victory.
  15. "Basketball Australia Annual Report 2001" (PDF). clearinghouseforsport.gov.au. p. 25. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  16. "ABA National Champions". SportsTG.com. 26 May 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  17. "Marlins celebrate national title win". ABC.net.au. 27 August 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  18. "Rockets are number 1". TheMorningBulletin.com.au. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  19. "Road to the National Finals: ACC National Champions". ABABasketball.net.au. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012.
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