Homegrown foundations drive NBL1 South Men’s final four

The NBL1 South 2026 Men’s Championship race is down to the regular season’s top four, with Melbourne Tigers, Eltham Wildcats, Nunawading Spectres and Frankston Blues set to contest the Preliminary Finals on Saturday, August 8.

While only two will advance to the Grand Final, all four have reached the final weekend before the decider with local coaches, homegrown players and strong association pathways at the heart of their success.

Frankston’s homegrown group includes Tom Garrett, who has represented the Blues since Under 12 level and continues a significant family connection to the club as the nephew of Blues great and Australian basketball icon David Andersen.

Blake Jackson and Kynan Philippe both entered Frankston’s VJBL program at Under 14 level, followed by Nicholas Beattie at Under 16 level and Lachlan Kanngiesser at Under 18 level.

That group has developed under head coach Andrew Harms, a Frankston junior who has led the Blues across all six seasons played since NBL1 began.

Harms was named the inaugural NBL1 Coach of the Year in 2019 and has recorded more wins than any other men’s coach since the competition’s inception.

“From day one, we’ve tried to build a sustainable model, not one that peaks for a season, but one that gives Frankston the chance to compete every single year,” Harms said.

“That starts with our junior pathway. We want our young players to genuinely believe there’s an opportunity to wear a Frankston jersey at the NBL1 level. If you create that belief and invest in their development, you build something far bigger than a roster…you build a club.

“At the same time, we’re realistic. You can’t rely solely on juniors, so we strategically recruit players who complement our core. But our recruitment philosophy has always been different. We look beyond the obvious numbers and highlight statistics.

“We also believe in opportunity and resources. We ask ourselves, can we provide this player with an opportunity they haven’t had before? Can we surround them with the coaching, environment and resources to become the best version of themselves?

“Once they’re in our program, our responsibility changes. Recruitment is only the starting point. Our job as coaches is to coach them up. It’s to develop their habits, improve their decision-making, challenge them, build their confidence and help them become better players than when they arrived.”

Basketball Victoria CEO Nick Honey believes the composition of the final four reflects the original vision for the competition, which began as the Basketball Victoria Elite League before becoming NBL1 in 2019.

“The NBL1 South 2026 Men’s final four perfectly embodies what the Basketball Victoria Elite League was created to achieve: strong associations driving elite basketball within their local communities,” Honey said.

“The teams that finished first through fourth on the regular season ladder have each combined high-level talent with coaches and players developed through their own pathways.

“It shows that associations can compete at the highest level while maintaining a genuine connection between their junior programs, senior teams and local supporters.”

Eltham is chasing its second championship in three seasons, with seven members of its current squad having been part of the Wildcats’ maiden NBL1 South Men’s Championship in 2024.

Captain Samuel Whelan, Harry Stones, Sam Short, Sam Alexander, Zac Anderson, Zak Cunningham and Ovie Magbegor were all part of that championship group.

Stones, Cunningham and Josh McCann have been Wildcats since Under 12 level, while Whelan and Anderson joined Eltham at Under 16 level.

Kofi Aden arrived as a top-age Under 18, while Alexander and Magbegor entered the club’s senior pathway through Youth League.

Head coach Craig Stratford has followed his own path through Eltham’s coaching ranks, progressing from VJBL to Big V Youth League and now NBL1 South.

Melbourne’s place in the final four continues the proud history of one of Australian basketball’s most recognisable clubs.

Head coach Andrew Gaze needs little introduction, while Mason Gaze has been part of the Tigers’ program since Under 12 level.

Anthony Karabatsos, Jack Purchase, Justin Bond, Kai Garnaut, Luca Laird, Patrick Twigg, Reece Bray, Samuel Haslett, Tom Wilson and Wilson Amos have also spent time within Melbourne’s junior program.

Purchase continues his family’s long association with the Tigers through his father, Nigel Purchase.

After reaching the NBL1 South 2025 Men’s Grand Final before falling to Sandringham, Melbourne is now one win away from returning to the decider.

Nunawading’s return to the final four has been led by NBL1 South 2026 Men’s Coach of the Year Andrew Cutler.

A former Spectres junior player, Cutler led Nunawading to consecutive Victorian Youth Championship titles in 2018 and 2019 before taking charge of its NBL1 South Men’s program.

“I think it gives me a fairly good sense of what it means to feel connected to the club, and the importance of keeping the pathway strong so players feel like they belong here,” Cutler said.

“I feel a responsibility as a steward of a program with such a rich history and tradition to keep that going.”

Alec Mulqueeney, Curtis Brecko, Daniel Baxter, Dihan Wiggett, Jack Gandolfo and Joe Mutimer have all been part of Nunawading since Under 12 level, while NBL1 South First Team selection Christian D’Angelo is another Spectres junior.

“It’s a good reflection of the pathway,” Cutler said.

“A lot of them have come through around the same time, so there’s a level of trust and familiarity that’s probably helped us through the year.

“Hopefully it’s a great example for younger players to see what’s possible if they stay involved with the club.”

The Spectres are now chasing their first Grand Final appearance since winning the inaugural NBL1 Men’s Championship in 2019.

The connection extends beyond each team’s playing roster, with players from all four clubs also deeply involved in their junior programs. Their presence gives the next generation an opportunity to learn from and build relationships with the players representing their association at NBL1 level.

Across the four remaining teams, high-level recruits have been added to strong local foundations. But as the Grand Final approaches, the players and coaches developed within each association remain central to their title hopes.