The BA CoE secured a commanding 73–60 victory over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at home on 10 May 2026 in an NBL1 Eastern regular-season clash. The result reinforced the Centre of Excellence’s reputation as a formidable force in the competition, with their disciplined defence and balanced attack proving too much for the visitors to overcome.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, BA CoE set a high tempo, controlling the paint and limiting Manly’s transition opportunities. The home side took a 20–14 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Although the Sea Eagles managed to tighten the score late in the second period, BA CoE responded with a decisive 10–2 run to end the half ahead 38–28.

The third quarter was where the game effectively tilted. BA CoE’s aggressive full-court press forced multiple turnovers, turning defence into quick transition buckets. Manly Warringah struggled to find rhythm from beyond the arc, shooting just 28% from three-point range for the game. The lead ballooned to 18 points early in the fourth quarter before the Sea Eagles mounted a late surge, but BA CoE held firm to close out a 13-point win.

Key Moments

• First-half dominance: BA CoE held Manly to just 14 points in the opening quarter, establishing defensive intensity that set the tone.
• Second-quarter response: After Manly pulled within six, BA CoE went on a 10–2 run to regain control before halftime.
• Third-quarter breakaway: An 8–0 burst early in the third period extended the lead to 17, forcing a Manly timeout.
• Late resilience: The Sea Eagles cut the deficit to single digits with under four minutes left, but BA CoE answered with a clutch three-pointer and a steal that led to a fast-break layup.

Standout Players

For BA CoE, the engine was their defensive-minded guard, who finished with a game-high 22 points and 6 steals. The interior presence of their centre was equally vital, pulling down 14 rebounds and blocking 3 shots. On the Manly side, their point guard battled hard for 18 points and 7 assists, but lacked consistent support from the supporting cast.

Table Impact

With this victory, BA CoE improved to 9–3 on the season, keeping them firmly in the top four of the NBL1 Eastern standings. The loss dropped Manly Warringah to 6–6, putting pressure on the Sea Eagles to string together wins if they hope to secure a playoff berth. For BA CoE, the result underscored their championship credentials, particularly their ability to lock down opponents in high-stakes regular-season matchups.