Frankston vs Forestville Eagles

In a tight, physical contest that mirrored the stakes of a single-elimination semi-final, Forestville built a lead through the middle quarters and held off a late Frankston surge. The Blues, who had looked sharp in a 93–79 win over Norths Bears on Friday, struggled to generate consistent offence against a Forestville defence that ranked among the stingiest in the field (94.86 points per game allowed in the regular season, per NBL1.com.au season averages).

Frankston kept it close into the second half, but Forestville's length on the glass — they averaged 49.29 rebounds per game in the regular season, the best mark of any team at the National Finals — proved decisive. The Eagles controlled second-chance opportunities and limited Frankston's transition looks.

The Blues fought back in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to a single possession, but Forestville steadied with timely buckets to close out the 80–75 victory.

Forestville's rebounding dominance and composure down the stretch. Frankston entered the National Finals averaging 39.16 rebounds per game — the lowest in the six-team field — and the gap told. Forestville's ability to extend possessions and limit Frankston to one shot per trip prevented the Blues from building the momentum they generated in their Round 1 win.

Alex Starling (Forestville): Fresh off his game-winner against Gold Coast on Friday (22 points, 13 rebounds), Starling was again the focal point. His 22-point, 13-rebound double-double against the Rollers set the tone, and he backed it up with another influential all-court display against Frankston, per basketball.com.au's coverage.

Jack Stanwix (Frankston): The Blues' leading scorer in Friday's win over Norths (24 points), Stanwix carried the offensive load again in the semi-final. Frankston needed secondary scoring to supplement him, and it did not arrive in sufficient volume.

Boston Mazlin (Forestville): Mazlin's 19 points in the Gold Coast win showed his importance as a secondary scorer. The Eagles' balanced attack — five players averaging double figures in the regular season — made them hard to guard.

The NBL1 National Finals use a round-robin format: six teams, two games each, with the top two advancing to Sunday's championship. Forestville's 2–0 record (85–84 vs Gold Coast, 80–75 vs Frankston) booked their place in the decider.

Frankston's season averages of 94.92 points and 39.16 rebounds per game (NBL1.com.au) predicted vulnerability against a Forestville side that conceded just 94.86 points and grabbed 49.29 boards. The five-point margin — 80–75 — reflected that matchup gap: Frankston scored five fewer than their season average, while Forestville scored nearly six below theirs, evidence of a grind-it-out contest that suited the Eagles.

Forestville advanced to Sunday's championship game at 1:30 pm ACST (2:00 pm AEST) against the winner of the other semi-final between Canberra Gunners and Gold Coast Rollers. The Eagles came to Adelaide as NBL1 Central champions and the No. 3 seed, with a 16–2 conference record (88.9 win percentage, per NBL1.com.au).

Frankston finished 1–1 in Adelaide, a commendable run that included a 14-point opening win over East champion Norths Bears. After winning the NBL1 South title with a 15–7 regular-season record, the Blues will regroup for the 2027 campaign.

Forestville's rebounding edge and battle-hardened composure — forged in a one-point escape on Friday — made the difference. Frankston had the talent to win this game but could not overcome the size and second-chance deficit. The Eagles enter the final as genuine contenders, role players hitting form at the right time alongside Starling.