Wildcats Off-Season Wrap | NBL1 Finals Preview

The next stage of the Wildcats' off-season begins this week, with finals matchups across the NBL1 West, NBL1 South and NZNBL Finals.

Cam Huefner and DP Marley Sam go head-to-head after standout regular seasons, David Okwera and Tom Gerovich meet in an elimination final, while Elijah Pepper and Tana Kopa continue their campaigns in New Zealand and Victoria.

Okwera and Gerovich face elimination
Only one will progress beyond the opening weekend of the NBL1 West Finals when David Okwera's East Perth Eagles face Tom Gerovich and the Willetton Tigers on Saturday night.

The Tigers earned home-court advantage after finishing fifth, while East Perth claimed the eighth and final finals position.

Gerovich has been a consistent presence for Willetton throughout the season, averaging 14.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Okwera, meanwhile, has enjoyed another strong year with the Eagles, averaging 18.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists while helping East Perth return to the postseason.

It's the first of two NBL1 West elimination finals featuring Wildcats connections, with one season ending and the other continuing.

NBL1 West Elimination Final
Willetton Tigers vs East Perth Eagles
Saturday, August 1 | 6:00pm AWST
Willetton Basketball Stadium


Two of the NBL1 West's best meet in Kalamunda
The second elimination final sees two Wildcats recognised among the competition's best during the regular season meet with their seasons on the line.

Newly signed Wildcats DP Marley Sam and the Eastern Suns host Cam Huefner and the Perry Lakes Hawks after both earned major league honours this week.

Huefner was selected in the 2026 NBL1 West Men's All-First Team following an outstanding NBL1 West campaign, averaging 26.7 points and 8.6 rebounds while establishing himself as one of the competition's premier forwards.

Sam's breakout season was recognised with the 2026 NBL1 West Men's Youth Player of the Year award before he was also named in the Men's All-Second Team. The 17-year-old averaged 21.6 points, 5.8 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 3.3 steals to help guide the Suns into sixth place and a home elimination final.

Wildcats assistant coach and Perry Lakes head coach Ben Petterson adds another Perth connection to a matchup featuring two players who have carried standout regular-season form into the postseason.

NBL1 West Elimination Final
Eastern Suns vs Perry Lakes Hawks
Saturday, August 1 | 7:30pm AWST
Ray Owen Sports Centre

Pepper takes Wellington into the playoffs
Elijah Pepper's impressive season with the Wellington Saints continues on Thursday night when the club hosts the Otago Nuggets in the NZNBL elimination finals.

After finishing fourth, the Saints have earned home-court advantage at TSB Arena, with Pepper entering the postseason following another prolific campaign that has seen him rank among the league's leading scorers and playmakers.

With Wellington chasing another championship, the Wildcats guard now turns his attention to knockout basketball.

NZNBL Elimination Final
Wellington Saints vs Otago Nuggets
Thursday, July 30 | 7:00pm NZST
TSB Arena


Kopa's finals journey begins
Development Player Tana Kopa will also feature in the NBL1 South Finals after helping Keilor Thunder secure sixth place during the regular season.

The Thunder advance to Week Two of the playoffs, where they'll meet the Nunawading Spectres in a knockout contest.

It's another valuable opportunity for Kopa to play finals basketball before joining the Wildcats for NBL27.

NBL1 South Finals
Nunawading Spectres vs Keilor Thunder
Saturday, August 1
Nunawading Basketball Centre