The champion teams of the Australian Basketball Association (ABA) National Finals were determined by grand final championship games at the conclusion of the finals weekend.
The men's and women's champion from each ABA conference alongside a number of wildcard teams competed at the ABA National Finals 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 National Finals were known as the Australian Club Championships (ACC) in 2007 and 2008. [3] The ABA and ACC was abandoned following the 2008 season. [3]
The ABA was established in 1981 and operated under many different names and structures until 2008. [4] [5]
The conferences included:
| Teams | Win | Loss | Total | Year(s) won | Year(s) lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballarat Miners | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1989, 1994, 1995 | 1990, 1991, 1992 |
| Cairns Marlins | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1998, 2004, 2007 | 1994, 1997 |
| Geelong Cats/Supercats | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1981, 1999, 2006 | — |
| Bulleen Boomers | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1984, 1990 | 1983, 1985, 1988 |
| Bendigo Braves | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1988, 2005 | 1989 |
| Hobart Chargers | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2000, 2002 | 2008 |
| Frankston Bears/Blues | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1982 | 1981, 1995, 1998 |
| Kilsyth Cobras | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1985 | 1999, 2000 |
| Sydney City Slickers/Sydney City Comets/Sydney Comets | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1992 | 1986, 2005 |
| Melbourne Tigers | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1983 | 1982 |
| Newcastle Hunters | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1986 | 1987 |
| Knox Raiders | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1991 | 1996 |
| North-West Tasmania Originals/Thunder | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1996 | 2004 |
| Adelaide Buffalos | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1987 | — |
| North East Melbourne Arrows | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1993 | — |
| Suncoast Clippers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1997 | — |
| Mount Gambier Pioneers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2003 | — |
| Rockhampton Rockets | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2008 | — |
| Dandenong Rangers | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 2006, 2007 |
| Chelsea Gulls | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 1984 |
| Murray Bridge Bullets | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 1993 |
| Australian Institute of Sport | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2002 |
| Team | Win | Loss | Total | Year(s) won | Year(s) lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEABL | 22 | 22 | 44 | 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 | 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008 |
| QBL | 5 | 2 | 7 | 1997, 1998, 2004, 2007, 2008 | 1994, 1997 |
| Big V | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2006, 2007 | |
| Waratah League | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2005 | |
| Central ABL | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Teams | Win | Loss | Total | Year(s) won | Year(s) lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayside/Frankston Blues | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1993, 1997, 2004 | 1991, 1992, 1994 |
| Knox Raiders | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1992, 1994, 1996 | 1998, 2005 |
| Bendigo Braves | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2000, 2003 | 2006 |
| Townsville Sunbirds/Flames | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2007, 2008 | 1997 |
| Dandenong Rangers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1990, 1991 | — |
| Kilsyth Cobras | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1998, 2002 | — |
| Ballarat Miners | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2005, 2006 | — |
| Launceston Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1995 | 1996 |
| Southern Districts Spartans | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1999 | — |
| Sturt Sabres | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 1990, 2002 |
| Broadmeadows Broncos | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 1993 |
| Adelaide Opals | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 1995 |
| Norwood Flames | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 1999 |
| Nunawading Spectres | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2000 |
| Forestville Eagles | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2003 |
| North Adelaide Rockets | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2004 |
| Hume City Broncos | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2007 |
| Sydney Comets | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2008 |
| Team | Win | Loss | Total | Year(s) won | Year(s) lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEABL | 15 | 11 | 26 | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2006 |
| QBL | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1999, 2007, 2008 | 1997 |
| Central ABL | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004 | |
| Big V | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2007 | |
| Waratah League | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2008 | |
The ABA's roots can be traced back as far as 1965 when the South Eastern Conference (SEC) was established. The SEC continued until 1971 when the Australian Club Championships gained pre-eminence. [4] The Australian Club Championships ceased operations after 1980 due to the rise of Australia's first truly national competition, the National Basketball League (NBL). [4]
Melbourne Church of England, later becoming Melbourne Tigers, won the SEC in each of its six seasons. [27]
| Years | Champion | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 1965–70 | Melbourne Church of England | [27] |
| 1971–80 | League abandoned due to annual Australian Club Championships | |
The Australian Basketball Association (ABA) was a semi-professional basketball competition in Australia. The competition had five leagues under its banner during the 2000s operating as conferences: South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL), Queensland Basketball League (QBL), Central Australian Basketball League, Big V and Waratah League. The ABA's roots can be traced back as far as 1965 and operated under many different names and structures until 2008.
The Canberra Gunners are an Australian basketball team based in Canberra. The Gunners compete in the Men's NBL1 East and play their home games at Belconnen Stadium. The team is affiliated with Basketball ACT, the governing body for basketball in the Australian Capital Territory. Their sister team, the Canberra Nationals, play in the Women's NBL1 East.
Ballarat Miners is a NBL1 South club based in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Ballarat Basketball Association, the major administrative basketball organisation in the region. The Miners play their home games at Ballarat Sports Events Centre.
Bendigo Braves is a NBL1 South club based in Bendigo, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Bendigo Basketball Association, the major administrative basketball organisation in the region. The Braves play their home games at Bendigo Stadium.
Frankston Blues is a NBL1 South club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Frankston & District Basketball Association (FDBA), the major administrative basketball organisation in the City of Frankston. The Blues play their home games at Frankston Basketball Stadium.
Geelong United is a NBL1 South club based in Geelong, Victoria. Known as the Geelong Supercats for the overwhelming majority of its existence, the club fields teams in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. Previously managed by Basketball Geelong, the club is affiliated with Geelong United Basketball and plays its home games at the Geelong Arena.
Knox Raiders is a NBL1 South club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Knox Basketball Incorporated (KBI), the major administrative basketball organisation in the City of Knox. The Raiders play their home games at the State Basketball Centre.
Nunawading Spectres is a NBL1 South club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Melbourne East Basketball Association (MEBA), the major administrative basketball organisation in the City of Whitehorse. The Spectres play their home games at Nunawading Basketball Centre.
Jason Cameron is an Australian former professional basketball player who played nine seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL). The 200 cm small forward from Mackay also spent multiple years in the Queensland Basketball League and the South East Australian Basketball League where he won numerous awards during the 2000s.
The 2007 Australian Club Championships (ACC) brought together the best men's and women's basketball teams from the Waratah League, South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL), Queensland Australian Basketball League (QABL), Central Australian Basketball League (CABL) and Big V competitions for their shot at national glory, with the event held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
The 2006 ABA National Finals brought together the best men's and women's basketball teams from the Waratah League, South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL), Queensland Australian Basketball League (QABL), Central Australian Basketball League (CABL) and Big V competitions for their shot at national glory, with the event held at the Broadmeadow Basketball Stadium in Newcastle, New South Wales.
The North-West Tasmania Thunder are an Australian basketball team based in Ulverstone, Tasmania. The Thunder compete in the Men's NBL1 South and play their home games at the Ulverstone Sports and Leisure Centre.
Mount Gambier Pioneers is a NBL1 South club based in Mount Gambier, South Australia. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Basketball Mount Gambier, the major administrative basketball organisation in the state's south-east region. The Pioneers play their home games at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre.
Melbourne Tigers is a NBL1 South club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Melbourne Basketball Association (MBA), the major administrative basketball organisation south of Melbourne's Central Business District. The Tigers play their home games at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
Newcastle Falcons is a NBL1 East club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 East. The club is a division of Newcastle Basketball, the major administrative basketball organisation in the region. The Falcons play their home games at Newcastle Basketball Stadium.
Dandenong Rangers is a NBL1 South club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Dandenong Basketball Association (DBA), the major administrative basketball organisation in the City of Greater Dandenong. The Rangers play their home games at Dandenong Stadium.
Bulleen Boomers is a Big V club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's Big V. The club is a division of Bulleen-Templestowe Basketball Club (BTBC), the major administrative basketball organisation in the City of Manningham. The Boomers play their home games at Sheahans Reserve Basketball Stadium.
The Launceston Tornadoes are an Australian basketball team based in Launceston, Tasmania. The Tornadoes compete in the Women's NBL1 South and play their home games at Elphin Sports Centre. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Buckby Motors Launceston Tornadoes.
Kilsyth Cobras is a NBL1 South club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Kilsyth and Mountain District Basketball Association Inc. (K&MDBA), the major administrative basketball organisation in the City of Maroondah. The Cobras play their home games at Kilsyth Sports Centre.
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.
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.
