The Nunawading Spectres took another step toward their NBL1 South 2026 season over the weekend, with both the men’s and women’s programs competing at the league’s annual Pre-Season Blitz at Hoop City in Port Melbourne.
With new faces across both rosters, the Blitz provided the Spectres with their first real opportunity to test combinations, build chemistry and get meaningful minutes into players ahead of the season opener in Hobart on Friday 27 March.
Across the three days of competition, Nunawading showed promising signs on both sides of the program as the foundations for the 2026 campaign continue to take shape.
Women Finding Their Rhythm
For the Spectres women, the Blitz marked the first competitive outing for a largely new group, making early connection and cohesion a key focus across the weekend.
Encouragingly, the group showed clear growth from game to game, applying lessons quickly and beginning to establish offensive rhythm.
That progress was most evident in Nunawading’s second game of the weekend, where the Spectres exploded for 94 points against Mount Gambier, showcasing the offensive potential of the new-look roster.
The import pairing of Riley Lupfer and Kylee Blacksten made an immediate impact, combining to drive Nunawading’s offensive flow while giving the Spectres a dangerous scoring presence on the perimeter.
While the offensive output was a highlight, the group will continue to sharpen its defensive consistency and rebounding as preparations shift toward Round One.
Men Showcase Depth and Versatility
Nunawading’s men also left the weekend with strong positives, demonstrating the depth and flexibility across the roster.
The return of Kingsley Box and Dyson King-Hawea strengthens the Spectres rotation, giving the coaching staff the ability to deploy a variety of line-ups and combinations across the floor.
The team continues to operate on Head Coach Andrew Cutler’s read-and-react system, placing decision-making firmly in the hands of players as they exploit matchups and defensive weaknesses.
Among the early standouts was Christian D’Angelo, who looks set to take another step this season after spending the summer with Melbourne United’s extended squad.
New import Owen Lobsinger also showed promising signs in his first appearance in Spectres colours, displaying significant upside and versatility.
The roster is expected to strengthen further in the coming weeks, with Ben Griscti still to arrive following his commitments with the Adelaide 36ers, while the club also continues to explore the potential of adding one more import to the squad.
Eyes on Round One
While the Blitz remains a pre-season event, it continues to provide a valuable early snapshot of teams across the competition.
For Nunawading, the weekend delivered exactly what it needed – meaningful minutes, growing chemistry and early indicators of the identity both teams are beginning to develop.
With the foundations now in place, the Spectres turn their attention to the start of the NBL1 South season on Friday 27 March.
