Wellington vs Southland – Lucky 13! Saints Seize 2025 NBL Title

Wellington Saints Claim 13th Title with Second-Half Surge Over Sharks

TSB Arena Wellington, July 14 — A dominant second-half performance has propelled the Mills Albert Wellington Saints to a thrilling 88–83 victory over the Southland Sharks in the 2025 Sal’s NBL Grand Final, securing their record-extending 13th National Basketball League championship.

The win marks the Saints’ first title since 2021 and a maiden championship for head coach Aaron Young, who had previously fallen short in three consecutive finals with the Auckland Tuatara before being lured to the capital by Saints General Manager Jordan Mills.

Hyrum Harris Named Grand Final MVP

Leading the charge for Wellington was Hyrum Harris (20 pts, 14 reb, 3 ast), who delivered a monster performance with a game-high points tally and 14 rebounds, before hitting the final points of the game from the free throw line to make it a two possession game with just 4 seconds to play. His play earned him Grand Final MVP honours. His relentless energy and leadership decisive in the Saints’ second-half surge, with most of the damage done in a 26-16 third quarter.

Sean Bruce with an impressive cameo, hitting his 13 point tally in 16 minutes, going 5-8 from the field with two huge triples in the all-important third quarter, all leading to a game high +14 off the bench.

Ngatai’s Tribute to Braswell

Veteran forward Jordan Ngatai, who added 19 points, dedicated the victory to former Saints and Sharks coach Kevin Braswell, who tragically passed away earlier this year.

“I want to give a shout-out to the Braswell family,” Ngatai told the fans in attendance and the Sky audience watching at home. “He was a big part of both these franchises. I know that he’s watching now, watching a hell of a game. He’s going to be proud and I hope the Braswell family is proud and we’re just sending our love to him.”

Sharks’ Remarkable Turnaround

Despite the loss, the Southland Sharks can hold their heads high after a remarkable season that saw them win 9 straight games to power their way to the championship game appearance. Under new head coach Jonathan Yim, the Sharks rebounded from a second-to-last finish in 2024 to reach the Grand Final, exceeding all expectations and reigniting a passionate fanbase.

Southland started strong, jumping to a seven-point lead early behind 5 first quarter triples and held a 44–41 advantage at halftime. But the third quarter proved pivotal, as the Saints outscored the Sharks 26–16 to take control.

Turnovers and offensive fouls began to plague Southland in the final period, allowing Wellington to stretch the lead to 13 but the orange army faithful in attendance hopeful of a comeback as Keylan Boone (19 pts, 1 ast, 6 reb) caught fire late.

They rallied to cut the deficit to four, but Nick Marshall’s clutch offensive rebounds leading to clutch triples in the final minutes sealed the win for the Saints.

Historic Achievement

With 13 titles, the Wellington Saints remain the most successful active franchise in Sal’s NBL history, ahead of the Canterbury Rams (6 titles). Their 2025 triumph cements their legacy as the league’s gold standard.

Result: Mills Albert Wellington Saints (88) defeat The Southland Sharks (83)

Leading Players:

Saints: Hyrum Harris (20 pts, 14 reb, 3 ast), Nick Marshall (16 pts, 11 reb, 3 ast)

Sharks: Keylan Boone (19 pts, 1 ast, 6 reb), Josiah Allick (15 pts, 6 ast, 9 reb)

Sal’s NBL Boxscore