Hidden Gems no more: NBL1 stars shine in Malaysia at Asia Cup

Image credit: FIBA

The FIBA Under-18 Women’s Asia Cup saw 13 female athletes representing the NBL1, including 12 who were part of the Australian Gems’ three-peat.

The latter’s one-point win over Japan was secured by a last-second basket by Sandringham Sabres’ Madi Ryan.

For Ryan, the clutch basket capped off a superb tournament where she claimed All-Star Five honours, thanks to 17 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest, alongside Centre of Excellence talent Isabel Smith.

Ryan’s 17-point, 17-rebound performance in the Final was one of three double-doubles in the tournament, showcasing her ability as a rebounder and an efficient interior scorer, shooting 74 per cent from two-point range.

Smith was consistent, scoring 16.8 points per game, while also averaging 2.2 steals per game across her five tournament appearances.

However, stats didn’t matter in the grand scheme for Smith.

“When Madi put up that final shot, and it went in, it was an amazing feeling,” Smith said.

“This is the most surreal I’ve ever felt in the game.”

A pillar of the Gems’ success in the Under-18 Women’s Asia Cup was their continuity with their starting five.

Cheyenne Bobongie, Jemyma Manyok and Olivia Olechnowicz rounded out the five-person unit that was unchanged throughout the tournament and helped spearhead an unbeaten run in Malaysia.

Manyok’s rim protection was valuable, shown by her leading the tournament in blocks.

Olechnowicz was Smith’s partner in crime defensively, while also scoring more than 14 points in four of Australia’s five matches.

Bobongie was a stabilising presence, notably hitting a huge clutch three in the final minute of the gold medal game.

Upon reflection on the tournament, NBL1 South and Australian Gems Head Coach Kristi Harrower was grateful the Asia Cup gave them a proper send-off.

“It was really important for me that we try to win this game because it will be the last Asia Cup for some of these girls,” Harrower said.

“I wanted to make sure that they won today.”

While they fell short in their bid for an Under-18 Women’s Asia Cup title, the NBL1 North’s Gia Vukona represented New Zealand in Malaysia.

The Logan forward averaged 6.8 points, 4 rebounds and 1.8 steals in her four Asia Cup appearances, with her 12 points and 4 offensive rebounds in 17 minutes against Korea her best performance.

For prospects such as Smith and Vukona, their attention will now turn to the US collegiate level, committing to TCU and Idaho State, respectively, for the 2026-27 NCAA season.

Meanwhile, the COE’s Olivia Olechnowicz (Bendigo Spirit), Aspen Crase (Adelaide Lightning) and Mackay’s Cheyenne Bobongie (Townsville Fire) will look ahead to WNBL27.

The season tips off with the Tasmania Jewels’ first-ever WNBL game against the Geelong Venom, live from 7pm AEDT at MyState Bank Arena on 9Now and ESPN via Disney+.