New Balance University Basketball League Takes Season Five To New Heights

The New Balance University Basketball League (UBL) has fast become the premier stage for university basketball in Australia, and season five is proving to be its most exciting yet.

With the 2025 competition moving to a Semester Two schedule which started in August, the league has unlocked a new level of talent and intensity. No longer clashing with NBL1, universities can now feature their strongest players, resulting in deeper line-ups, higher quality basketball, and matchups that could go either way. Leading universities across the country have been delivering tightly contested performances, with nail-biting finishes and momentum shifting plays setting the tone for an electrifying season five.

Standout games this season have shown just how competitive the New Balance UBL has become, even after only four rounds. In the men’s game, the University of the Sunshine Coast hosted Victoria University in a thrilling contest, with the home side avoiding a late comeback to narrowly hold on for a 93-91 win. Rivals The University of Sydney and The University of Melbourne battled fiercely as well, exchanging the lead throughout, with Melbourne securing an 83-80 win. On the west coast, Curtin University faced defending men’s champions La Trobe University in a shifting game that kept spectators guessing until the final buzzer, with Curtin ultimately prevailing 95-93. Meanwhile, the University of Tasmania overcame an early deficit against Victoria University, turning the game into a fast-paced scoring duel that ended 101-97 in their favour.

These closely fought, high-scoring contests showcase the depth of talent now on display across the New Balance UBL men’s competition, as the injection of NBL1 players is lifting the overall strength of the teams, adding depth, intensity and quality that benefits the New Balance UBL as a whole. The 2025 New Balance UBL season features 44 NBL1 players, representing The University of Adelaide (7), Curtin University (5), Federation University Australia (2), La Trobe University (2), The University of Melbourne (4), University of the Sunshine Coast (1), UNSW Sydney (2), The University of Newcastle (4), The University of Sydney (6), University of Tasmania (4), The University of Western Australia (3), and Victoria University (4).

Standout performers in the men’s competition have already begun to shape the season. Among them is the 2024 New Balance UBL Men’s MVP Lachlan Bertram (Mandurah Magic – NBL1 West) from Curtin University, who has carried his strong form into 2025 with 99 points already to his name, reaffirming his ability to be both a prolific scorer and a game changer at both ends of the court. Adding a touch of basketball royalty and building his own influence on the game to the New Balance UBL is Mason Gaze (Melbourne Tigers – NBL1 South) representing Victoria University and following in the footsteps of his Australian basketball legend father Andrew Gaze and grandfather Lindsay Gaze, both of whom are inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Alongside him at Victoria University, is Jack Gandolfo (Nunawading Spectres – NBL1 South) who has also made his presence known, playing a key role with his team featuring in some of the most competitive matchups this season so far.

Other NBL1 players making a strong impression in season five are Wilson Amos (Melbourne Tigers – NBL1 South), Dihan Wiggett (Nunawading Spectres – NBL1 South) and Kai Garnaut (Melbourne Tigers – NBL1 South). All representing The University of Melbourne, they are steering the team through the opening rounds to the current position of fourth on the men’s ladder. The University of Tasmania are currently third on the ladder with the team only having one loss so far this season. Contributing to the team’s impact is Jack Stanwix (Central Districts Lions – NBL1 Central). On top of the ladder in first place is The University of Sydney, who have Matthew Wacher (Norths Bears – NBL1 East) elevating the team.

The depth of playing talent has attracted some of the best basketball coaches in Australia, with teams across the league now guided by those boasting national level-experience. The University of the Sunshine Coast’s (UniSC) program is led by Nathan Arousi, who joins the league as Head Coach (Men’s and Women’s teams) with both NBL1 and UBL experience. Mr Arousi has 13 years’ experience in NBL1 with a championship title to his name. Having previously coached the UniSC men’s team during its inaugural 2021 season, in 2025 he has the goal of creating an elite basketball environment at UniSC, a move that further strengthens the league’s overall calibre of play.

With standout NBL1 player performances and experienced coaches like Arousi shaping the competition, the New Balance UBL is raising the standard on the court while also expanding its reach digitally, giving a wider audience a front-row seat to the league’s excitement. A new season saw a new, dedicated Instagram channel created, and early results show just how popular basketball is in Australia, with the league’s standout talent capturing fans’ attention each week.

The New Balance UBL has reached over a quarter of a million views on Instagram, with 35,000 accounts engaged. Notably, 34,122 of those accounts were non-followers, signifying that the league is breaking beyond its core audience and has significant potential for further growth. The UniSport Australia (UniSport) YouTube channel has also seen strong growth with significantly more views, more hours watched, and a surge in new subscribers since the 2025 season began. This growing digital reach mirrors the improvements on the court, highlighting how the league’s strategic changes are already paying dividends both in engagement and competitive quality.

“The decision made by UniSport to move the season to commence in August to avoid clashes with the NBL1 has already elevated the quality and intensity of the competition, allowing universities to showcase their top talent on the court and produce more exciting, closely contested games like we have already seen in the early rounds,” said Mark Sinderberry, UniSport CEO. “With this structure in place, the future of the New Balance UBL is bright, as it will continue to grow and establish its position as a central part of basketball in Australia”.

As the New Balance UBL season five continues to unfold, more high-stakes games, standout performances and defining moments will continue to exhibit the progression and quality of the competition.

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(C) All photographs courtesy of The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, University of the Sunshine Coast, The University of Melbourne, The University of Adelaide and the University of Tasmania and may not be used without the express permission of either university or UniSport Australia.