3x3 Champions Win Again at the National Tertiary Basketball Championships

The 2025 National Tertiary Basketball Championships were held at the Hiwa Recreation Centre last weekend, the first UTSNZ event to be staged at the brand-new facility on the University of Auckland’s city campus. The country’s premier university basketball teams came together for three days of competition, with the tournament showcasing athletic excellence, sportsmanship, and the ever-increasing strength of basketball within the tertiary sector.

On Sunday afternoon it was the familiar faces of the University of Canterbury men and University of Waikato women who were presented the gold medals, with most of their respective team members winning gold in May at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin at the National Tertiary 3x3 Championships.

Men’s Competition

The University of Canterbury secured the men’s championship with a decisive victory over the University of Otago in the final, making it 3 titles in a row. Canterbury’s success was anchored by the outstanding play of Noah Carr, who was named the men’s Most Valuable Player and selected as a member of the Tournament Team. Lincoln University claimed the bronze medals after beating a gritty Massey University in the 3^rd place playoff.

Final Placings:

1^st University of Canterbury

2^nd University of Otago

3^rd Lincoln University

4^th Massey University

5^th University of Auckland

6^th University of Waikato

7^th AUT

8^th Victoria University of Wellington

Tournament Team: Noah Watson (University of Canterbury), Christopher Cristoff (University of Canterbury), Patrick Freeman (University of Otago), Simon Lafaele (Lincoln University), Mac Stodart (University of Otago).

Women’s Competition

The University of Waikato emerged as champions in the women’s tournament, capping off a dominant 3 days as they defeated the University of Otago 97-85. Despite missing a number of players on finals day and facing an 11-point deficit after the first quarter, Waikato regrouped to fight back strongly and find the form of the previous two days.

“We really wanted to stay together as a team and pick it up for the final” noted Waikato standout Carly Ohia after the game, who was later named women’s MVP and selected to the Tournament Team. Lincoln University secured third place over cross-town rivals University of Canterbury, winning comfortably 96-71.

Final Placings:

1^st University of Waikato

2^nd University of Otago

3^rd Lincoln University

4^th University of Canterbury

5^th University of Auckland

6^th AUT

7^th Victoria University of Wellington

8^th Massey University

Tournament Team: Carly Ohia (University of Waikato), Tia Pavihi (University of Otago), Hana Lacey-Rameka (Lincoln University), Kayla Manuirirangi (University of Waikato), Millie Simpson (University of Otago)

The Spirit Award was presented to the Massey University women’s team, recognising their exemplary sportsmanship, positivity, and commitment to the values of tertiary sport.

You can check out the full results on GameDay, and re-watch all of the action that played out on court 1 over on UTSNZ TV.