The University of Melbourne finish second at SIAS University Intercontinental Basketball Tournament

Ten University of Melbourne student-athletes made history when they travelled to China last month to represent the University of Melbourne and Australia at the SIAS Intercontinental Basketball Championship.

For the last three years, SIAS University in Zhengzhou, Henan, China, has hosted the SIAS Intercontinental Basketball Championship. This year is the first time an Australian team has competed at the University's flagship international event. The University of Melbourne's Men's Basketball team received the honour of being invited after winning Gold at UniSport Nationals in 2025. It is the first time the University of Melbourne has attended a 5x5 international basketball tournament, making the occasion even more special.

The team departed from Melbourne on 23 May, arriving in Zhongzhou before heading to their accommodation at the host SIAS University's Campus.

On the evening of May 25, the opening ceremony of the tournament was held at the University’s Comprehensive Sports Arena. Five international teams from Australia, Hungary, Singapore, Malaysia, and Montenegro joined the SIAS University team to compete in the tournament.

Hearing from the Founder and Chairman of the Board of SIAS University, the group was reminded of the unique experience they had been gifted.

"Sport serves as a bridge that transcends national boundaries and cultural differences, and basketball competitions are not only a test of determination and teamwork but also an important platform for international youth to engage in mutual learning, cultural exchange, and friendship-building."

Team Delegate, Ben Andrews, also shared a few words,

"Whilst we are excited to be here to play tough games of competitive basketball, opportunities like this are about much more than just a game — they are about learning about each other’s cultures, sharing experiences, and creating lasting connections between our universities and our countries."

While it was the UniSport Nationals team that earned the University an invite, it was a slightly different outfit that attended the tournament. This team in China featured six returning UBL players and four new additions who made their Melbourne University debuts. The team played in five games across the tournament, against three Universities and two National Development Program (NDP) teams. They were joined by current BigV Youth League Men's Head Coach and Melbourne University Basketball Club Lifetime Member, Andrew Walker, and Melbourne University Sport's Head of Strength and Conditioning, Ben Andrews, as Coach and Delegate, respectively.

Melbourne finished second in the tournament, dropping only one game to the overall winners, the University of Montenegro. The team was able to beat the University of Hungary, SIAS University, and both Singapore's and Malaysia's NDPs despite injuries plaguing the squad. The shared playing history between multiple players was a key element of the team's success. Additionally, they were motivated by the special opportunity that had been bestowed upon them.

According to SIAS University, the idea and purpose behind the tournament is "bringing together young athletes from around the world in a spirit of sportsmanship and friendship."

This certainly rang true for Charlie Cumberlidge,

"An opportunity like this doesn't come around very often; it puts things into perspective about where basketball can take you, but also the people you can meet. It was very cool to be brought together and share this unique experience with other students and athletes from across the world."

A highlight of the trip was visiting the Shaolin Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mahayana Buddhist monastery. Founded in 495 AD, it is renowned globally as the birthplace of Zen (Chan) Buddhism and the legendary cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu.

While the team's experience was special for countless reasons, they left the trip with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the kindness and hospitality they were shown by the host University, and particularly by their guides, Grace and Georgina.

"I was surprised by how receptive to us as players the people who came to watch our games were. It made us all feel important, and it was cool to have so many people excited to watch us play," shares Lachie Maddern.

There's no doubt this has been a memorable trip for all involved, and hopefully a good prelude to the upcoming UBL season.

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