Melbourne United Surges to Claim NBL Blitz Title as Defending Champion Tasmania Stumbles

The NBL27 preseason has officially laid its cards on the table, and Melbourne United is holding the strongest hand. Surging to the top of the standings, United claimed the Loggins-Bruton Cup at the CODE Sports NBL Blitz in Bendigo. Melbourne finished the five-day tournament with 12 points and a 111.11% percentage, edging out crosstown rivals South East Melbourne Phoenix, who finished second with 11 points.[1][3]

Melbourne's path to the preseason title was a high-stakes stress test of their roster depth. Entering their final matchup against the Illawarra Hawks on September 6, United was already missing marquee recruits Joe Ingles and Cole Anthony due to ankle and calf injuries, respectively. The attrition worsened during the game, as Sam Waardenburg succumbed to an early ankle injury and Shea Ili hurt his lower leg in the second half.[1][2]

Despite a heavily depleted rotation, United's secondary unit proved overwhelming. Trailing 78-76 at the final change, Melbourne outscored Illawarra 27-20 in the fourth quarter to secure a 103-98 victory. "They might have lost two more players to injury but Melbourne United had plenty others step up to secure the win," noted NBL.com.au's Chris Pike.[1][2]

Big man Josh Oduro anchored the comeback, shooting 9-of-12 from the floor to finish with 22 points, nine rebounds, and two steals. He was heavily supported by Luke Travers, who not only facilitated the offense but also claimed the Ray Borner Award as the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Travers averaged 18 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks across his two appearances.[2][3]

While Melbourne celebrated, the defending NBL champion Tasmania JackJumpers found themselves staring at a harsh reality check. Tasmania finished dead last in the 10-team standings, managing just 1.5 points and an 85.10% percentage. Their struggles, alongside the Perth Wildcats' disappointing ninth-place finish with 2 points, have dramatically shifted the narrative heading into the regular season.[1][3]

The unique scoring format of the NBL Blitz—where teams earn three points for a win and an additional point for every quarter won—heavily rewards consistency and punishes slow starts. South East Melbourne Phoenix maximized this format, joining United as the only other team to finish 2-0, while the Adelaide 36ers and Brisbane Bullets tied for third with 8.5 points each.[1]

Beyond the standings, the tournament delivered a significant win for the Bendigo community. The NBL and Bunnings partnered for a three-point donation initiative, raising $8,640 for the Bendigo CFA. NBL Group CEO David Stevenson praised the effort, stating, "From school visits, to a Special Olympics session, to raising real money for our local CFA, this CODE Sports Blitz has shown what our game can do off the court, not just on it."[3]

As the NBL27 season tips off on September 19, the Blitz standings have drawn clear battle lines. Melbourne United has proven their system can withstand severe injury disruptions, while the rest of the league—particularly the stumbling defending champions—now has a definitive target to chase.[1][3]