ABA 2025-26: Sonics cheer unbeaten season as they claim third straight premiership after downing Denmark

Sonics won their third premiership in a row, beating Denmark Magpies in a pulsating Albany Basketball Association’s men’s A-grade grand final on Friday night. While the showpiece never reached the heights of last year’s overtime thriller against North Albany, Sonics’ 46-22 victory meant they finished the season with a 100 per cent record, conquering all-comers and never looking threatened. The Magpies were competitive throughout but needed all their energies to combat David Arthur, Sonics’ twinkle-toed guard, his partner in crime Mark Elentorio and powerful tall Ruot Pal, the acquisition of whom the club coach stated afterwards had been key to their season as a whole. Pal made for a striking presence as, sporting plasters above and under his left eye, he was uncompromising throughout, a driving force who could set up scores or plunder them himself. With Arthur and showman Elentorio, Pal ran the Magpies’ defence ragged bagging 15 points to be the game’s top scorer, just pipping Arthur by two. Sonics’ Kayden Collins (eight points) was named grand final MVP. The Magpies could not match that threat going forwards, but they did give as good as they got in defence, Arthur spending much of the game flat on his backside after bouncing off Denmark’s tall trees Luke Wilson and Jackson Shaw. In Ryan Hick, the multi-talented young sportsman, Denmark have a super athlete who seems to glide across the court, but his five points, matched by Shaw to be their best under the bucket, were not going to get the Magpies close. There was just one moment – well, almost a moment – when it looked as though the final might turn into a classic when the Magpies were in front 9-8, four minutes into the first half as Shaw flipped home a shot from the free-throw line. However, it was a lead which lasted just 15 seconds as Pal responded to put Sonics 10-9 up and, although they didn’t know it at the time, that was as close as the Magpies were going to come to upsetting the title fancies. By half-time, the minor premiers were 20-13 in front, a hardly unassailable position, but they always seemed in control. With Elentorio in full-tricks mode, they upped the ante after the break as Pal and Arthur got to work again and soon they led 29-15, giving them the chance to use their bench and give the full squad a run. Arthur and Pal continued to run the show, always finding space and passes to punish the Magpies. Arthur swivelled and shuffled, eyes always on the basket, Pal powered through and Elentorio’s hands, as slick as a magician dolling out cards, made sure the Magpies were chasing shadows. Two points from the free-throw line by Luke Schober at the death gave the Magpies the last word, but it was Sonics who had the last laugh, claiming the flag – their fourth since joining the competition in 2020-21 – on their night of nights. Coach David Arthur – player David Arthur’s father – was delighted with the victory but admitted the unbeaten record coming into the game had caused some nerves. “You go through the season unbeaten, but this was the game we really wanted to win,” he said. “It’s great to get it done but the lads have been bringing it on every game. “They are a great group; they love each other and enjoy each other’s company and that means they love their basketball.” Last year Sonics were pushed to the limit by North Albany before clinching top spot 64-59 and the coach regretted in some ways that Friday night’s showpiece was not as exciting. “It’s always good to have a contested final and it would have been great for it to have been really close again,” he said. It might have been tighter but for the signing of Pal, whose presence enabled the showmen to parade their skills. “He has been a great pick-up,” coach Arthur said. “I don’t think we could have done this without him.”