Australia’s 3x3 wheelchair basketball squads have returned from the 2025 IWBF Asia Oceania Cup in Hangzhou, China, with a fourth-place finish for both the Men’s and Women’s Gold teams, and a strong final showing from the Women’s Green team.
Competing against some of the region’s top nations, the Wombats entered three teams and showed promising development across the board. While the event didn’t deliver a podium finish, it marked a significant step forward for the national program, with players gaining valuable international experience in the 3x3 format ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Men’s team, led by 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Luke Pople, progressed to the bronze medal match against China and delivered a strong, physical performance. Despite falling short in the final minutes, the group executed their game plan well and pushed the hosts throughout. Jeremy Tyndall was a standout, consistently impacting games with his speed, positioning, and decision-making.
“The game plan was executed effectively, but China proved too strong in the final minutes,” said Head Coach Rob Pike.
“It was a tough way to finish, but the performance signals exciting times ahead for this talented group.”
The Women’s Gold team also finished fourth following a tightly contested overtime loss to Japan in the bronze medal match. Captain Laura Davoli led with composure, while Georgia Inglis made a strong return to international play after the birth of her first child. Victoria Simpson also delivered a series of high-energy defensive efforts across the tournament.
“This group showed that, when bringing intensity and executing the game plan, they can compete with the best in the world,” Pike said.
“Tori’s (Victoria) defensive pressure and energy were exceptional throughout. Laura also impressed, growing in confidence and performance with each game.”
The Women’s Green team finished strong with a composed and confident win over the Philippines, closing out their campaign with their most impressive performance.
“The team finished the competition on a high, utilising quick ball movement and intense, high quality defence,” said Pike.
He also highlighted Maryanne Latu as a standout, noting her ability to combine physicality with consistent scoring. The tournament also provided important international court time for emerging players such as Katelin Gunn, who continues to progress through the national pathway.
Pike said the campaign offered clear insights into areas for improvement, particularly in managing the speed and intensity of 3x3 play.
“Our next focus is preparation for the 3x3 in South Africa,” he said.
“We need to improve our transition from defence to offence. Twelve seconds is a very short shot clock, and we need to utilise every second to get a high-quality shot.”
With increased international exposure and a deepening talent pool, the Asia Oceania Cup marked another important milestone in the Wombats’ 3x3 journey as they continue to build toward future success on the world stage.
