BNZ Breakers Secure Spot In Historic Ignite Cup Final - Record Prize Purse On The Line

The BNZ Breakers have officially qualified for the inaugural Ignite Cup Final, presented by Disney+, following a dominant qualifying phase. The team will face the Adelaide 36ers on Sunday 22 February, at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre with a record-breaking prize purse at stake.

The BNZ Breakers enter the final after an impressive run, finishing the qualifying phase with three wins from four games. Under the in-season tournament’s unique points system, where every quarter counts toward the standings, the Kiwi club claimed 11 individual quarters to finish with 20 points, securing their place in the championship matchup.

The stakes are high with a total $300,000 grand prize awarded to the winner. In a move that provides extra motivation for the roster, 60 per cent of the prize money will go directly to the players, with the remaining 40 per cent going to the club. The runners-up will receive $100,000.

The BNZ Breakers began the NBL26 campaign by winning the 2025 CodeSports NBL Blitz tournament in Canberra, Australia and secured the Loggins-Bruton Cup. This was conducted under a similar format.

Club Chairman Marc Mitchell said “we are thrilled to have earned a spot in the inaugural Ignite Cup and look forward to bringing a second piece of silverware to New Zealand this season."

Meeting the Adelaide 36ers in the final provides the ultimate shot at redemption following the heart-wrenching 112-110 overtime loss on Friday, 23 January. That thriller at Spark Arena, which had a staggering 37 lead changes, featured the BNZ Breakers going toe-to-toe with the league’s top-seeded team until the final buzzer.

The Ignite Cup has added a new layer of intensity to the NBL schedule, with every matchup simultaneously impacting the regular season standings. The BNZ Breakers now look to carry their momentum to the Gold Coast to claim the first-ever Ignite Cup trophy and the lion's share of the prize money.

Match Details: Ignite Cup Final

Matchup: Adelaide 36ers vs. BNZ Breakers

Location: Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

Date: Sunday, 22 February, 2026

Broadcast: Live on ESPN on Sky & Disney+

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