24th July 2026
Author: Maree DeGeorge
Melbourne, VICTORIA – Basketball Victoria is excited to announce that team nominations are now open for the 2026 Country Basketball League (CBL) season, with another thrilling summer of representative basketball set to tip off across regional Victoria.
Running from October to December, the CBL is Victoria's premier open-age representative competition for country associations, bringing together the state's best regional talent across four conferences – Gippsland, North East, North West and South West – as teams battle for conference championship honours.
More than just a competition, the CBL is a key development pathway for regional basketball. The league provides valuable opportunities for emerging talent to compete at a high level while continuing their development in a representative environment.
The program also plays an important role in developing the next generation of coaches, officials and emerging leaders, with participants benefiting from the guidance of experienced Head Coaches and senior representative athletes throughout the season.
Basketball Victoria Country Basketball League Coordinator Siddharth Yellepeddi said the CBL continues to provide an important platform for both athlete and association development across regional Victoria.
"The Country Basketball League is an incredible opportunity for associations to showcase their talent while creating meaningful development opportunities for players, coaches and officials," Yellepeddi said.
"Every season we see emerging athletes take the next step in their basketball journey, while communities come together to celebrate the game. We encourage all eligible associations to get involved and be part of another exciting CBL season."
The 2025 season once again highlighted the strength of country basketball, with eight associations crowned conference champions:
|
Conference |
Champions |
|
North West Men |
Castlemaine Cannons |
|
North West Women |
Maryborough Blazers |
|
South West Men |
Mt Gambier Lakers |
|
South West Women |
Portland Coasters |
|
Gippsland Men |
Pakenham Warriors |
|
Gippsland Women |
Morwell Magic |
|
North East Men |
Seymour Blasters |
|
North East Women |
Albury Cougars |
Whether your association is a returning contender or looking to join the competition for the first time, Basketball Victoria's Leagues & Competitions, and ADO team is available to support associations throughout the nomination process and help prepare teams and venues for the season ahead.
Don't miss the opportunity to be part of one of regional Victoria's premier basketball competitions.
Rally your players, engage your community and nominate your teams for an exciting 2026 Country Basketball League season.
Team nominations close: Sunday 2 August 2026.
Submit your team nomination NOW
To view the Rules of Operation click here
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