UniSport Nationals 3x3 Basketball Championships

Across three days of cold Canberra weather, shifting winds, outdoor courts and tightly contested finishes, the 2026 UniSport Nationals 3x3 Basketball Tournament delivered exactly what the format is built for. Hosted by the University of Canberra in partnership with 3x3 Hustle and UniSport Australia, the tournament brought together universities from across the country for one of the most unpredictable and entertaining events on the university sport calendar.

Played on a half court with one basket, 12 second shot clocks and continuous play, 3x3 basketball leaves no room to settle into games. Teams of three are constantly forced into decisions under pressure, and momentum can shift within seconds. Games are played to 21 points or the highest score after 10 minutes, with every possession carrying weight. One defensive lapse, one missed box out or one open look from beyond the arc can change the outcome instantly.

That pressure was on display from the opening tip as UNSW arrived in Canberra with four squads looking to improve on last year’s results. By the end of the tournament, every team had done exactly that.

Day 1 opened in near perfect conditions on the outdoor courts. Blue skies and light winds created the best basketball weather of the tournament, and UNSW’s teams took full advantage.

The Men’s Division 1 side immediately established itself as one of the strongest teams in the competition. Despite losing Jackson Smyth just days before the tournament due to an injury in NBL1, Angus Skrbinsek, Lachlan Stone, Leon Bailey and Melvin Chan barely missed a beat. Chan stepped up from the Division 2 squad at the last minute and the chemistry between the group clicked instantly.

The team finished the opening day with three wins from three games, shooting the ball at an elite level throughout the afternoon. Whether it was quick transition scores, physical drives to the rim or pull up twos from outside the arc, the group looked in rhythm from the opening possession of the tournament.

UNSW’s Men’s Division 2 team matched them with a perfect opening day of their own. Kai Tropman, Cameron Woodrup, Joseph Lee and Oliver Beerden set the tone early with a commanding win over Macquarie University before carrying that confidence through the remainder of the day.

The group’s defensive intensity immediately stood out. Joseph Lee controlled matchups defensively while Woodrup and Tropman provided consistent scoring, allowing UNSW to finish Day 1 undefeated and firmly in contention heading into the second day.

The Women’s Division 1 side of Emily Nguyen, Danielle Campos, Kaylie Wai and Madeleine Coman split their opening two games in a smaller division format. While the results were mixed, the squad showed composure in late game situations and adapted quickly to the faster pace and physicality of the 3x3 format.

UNSW’s Women’s Division 2 team also remained firmly in the mix after finishing Day 1 with a 2-2 record. Kaitryel Pelaez, Charlotte Burneikis, Karoline Aass Olsen and Victoria Vale battled through several close games and continued to improve as combinations developed throughout the day.

If Day 1 belonged to the offence, Day 2 became about survival.

Temperatures dropped below 15 degrees, winds picked up across the outdoor courts and suddenly simple shots became far more difficult. The conditions changed the style of basketball entirely. Long range shooting became inconsistent, rebounds travelled unpredictably and teams had to grind through possessions rather than relying on rhythm.

The Men’s Division 1 squad managed to stay in strong position with a 1-1 split despite the difficult conditions, while the Men’s Division 2 side found Day 2 tougher going, finishing 1-3 in a series of tight contests where momentum regularly swung possession to possession.

The Women’s Division 1 side endured a difficult schedule and finished the day winless but continued to compete physically in every matchup despite the conditions making outside scoring difficult.

Meanwhile, the Women’s Division 2 squad produced one of the moments of the tournament. Against Macquarie University in a tense overtime battle, Kaitryel Pelaez drilled the game winning shot to secure the victory for UNSW. With players and supporters packed around the court, the shot immediately became one of the standout moments across the three days.

By the time finals day arrived, Canberra delivered its coldest and windiest conditions of the tournament. Outdoor games became increasingly difficult as players fought against strong gusts that changed the flight of the ball possession by possession.

UNSW’s Men’s Division 1 side entered finals with confidence after its strong group stage performance, but its campaign came to an end in the quarter finals with a 21-15 loss to Macquarie University. Despite generating quality looks throughout the game, several shots refused to fall at key moments.

Speaking after the loss, Angus Skrbinsek reflected on how far the group had come despite the disruption leading into the tournament.

“We were already underdogs coming into this tournament after losing Jackson a few days out, but I’m so proud of the boys for how far we came. To improve from tenth last year to fifth this year says a lot about the group and the way we competed. We’re excited for what Nationals in Perth could look like with a full squad.”

The Women’s Division 1 team also saw its tournament end against Macquarie University, falling 21-10 in the Round of 16. Despite the result, the side improved on last year’s finish and continued to grow into the demands of the 3x3 game throughout the tournament.

The group responded well in the fifth-place playoff against Charles Sturt University, securing the win and another improved finish compared to last season. Speaking after the tournament, Kaitryel Pelaez said the group’s resilience across the three days stood out most.

“Our team displayed excellent persistence across the three day tournament, which was a real test of endurance. I’m very proud of our team dynamic and us making the quarter finals and finishing fifth overall. UniNationals was also a great way to build bonds with like-minded student athletes.”

UNSW’s final medal hope rested with the Men’s Division 2 side. After dominant finals wins over Australian Catholic University and The University of Sydney, the team advanced to a semi-final clash against Deakin University with genuine momentum behind them.

The semi-final delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the tournament.

Locked in overtime, a late foul call against Cameron Woodrup sent Deakin to the free throw line, where the eventual finalists converted the winning points to end UNSW’s run.

Despite the disappointment, the group remained composed post-game.

“Honestly, there’s nothing I would’ve changed across the three days,” Woodrup said. “I’m really happy with the way the boys held it together. Sometimes calls don’t go your way, but I thought we competed hard the entire tournament.”

Woodrup also singled out teammate Joseph Lee for his defensive work throughout the final’s series.

“Joseph was our MVP for sure, especially defensively against USYD. What he did on that end of the floor gave us a chance to win every game.”

While no UNSW side left Canberra with a medal, the overall performance across all four teams showed significant growth from last year’s campaign. Every squad improved its finishing position; multiple teams played deep into finals basketball and the performances across the three days reinforced the depth of UNSW’s basketball program heading toward UniSport Nationals in Perth later this year.

Beyond the results, the tournament captured exactly why 3x3 basketball continues to grow so quickly. The fast pace, constant momentum swings, outdoor atmosphere and closeness between courts, players and spectators created an environment where every game felt loud, physical and unpredictable.

Even with freezing winds rolling across the outdoor courts, players remained courtside long after their own games had finished, watching overtime contests, buzzer beaters and elimination games unfold metres away from them.

UNSW’s presence across the tournament was also recognised off the court, with the university crowned the 2026 UniSport Nationals 3x3 Basketball Spirit Champions. Awarded to the university that demonstrated the strongest spirit, sportsmanship and team culture across the entire event, the honour is voted on daily by competition managers, team managers, UniSport staff and event volunteers, making it a reflection of how UNSW’s teams carried themselves throughout the three days in Canberra.

A huge thank you goes to UniSport Australia and 3x3 Hustle for delivering the event, the University of Canberra for hosting across the three days, and Arc Sport for once again supporting and ensuring the safety of UNSW students throughout the tournament.

After three days of cold weather, outdoor courts and high-pressure basketball, UNSW leaves Canberra with plenty to build on and Perth is already firmly in sight.