APIA (Samoa) - The final chapter of the FIBA U17 Oceania Cup 2025 will see a familiar rivalry take center stage, as Australia and New Zealand meet once more with the regional crown on the line.
They will only be two days removed from an epic clash in the seeding game where Australia rallied from down by as much as 19 points to win and will be playing with bigger stakes on the line.
Both teams punched their tickets to the Final with commanding Semi-Final victories on Friday night in Apia. Australia overwhelmed Guam with relentless pace and depth, while New Zealand dismantled host nation Samoa behind suffocating defense and balanced scoring.
Now, with recovery complete and focus sharpened, Oceania's two benchmark youth pathways collide again - this time with gold at stake.
Australia arrive at the Final unbeaten and growing with each performance, having showcased their trademark defensive identity and depth throughout the tournament. Their 124-51 Semi-Final win over Guam highlighted that evolution, with pressure defense, ball movement, and unselfish play overwhelming their opponents from the opening tip.
For Billy McRae, the Semi-Final was a reminder of what it means to stay ready at international level.
"Whenever you play for your country, you stay ready for when your opportunity comes," McRae said after nearly putting up a triple-double with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists.
"We got it done today and now we've got to get it done tomorrow.”
McRae’s journey to the green-and-gold has been years in the making - driven by patience, persistence, and pride.
"It's been a lifelong dream of mine," he said. "Finally hearing those words, it meant the world to me."
"Representing my country and everyone back home is so important."
Australia's strength has come not just from individual performances, but from a collective commitment to identity - something McRae believes is clicking at the right time.
"I think we're finding who we are defensively - our identity that Australia normally has," he added. "Hopefully, we keep pushing that forward."
With contributors across the roster and familiarity built through shared pathways, Australia will look to impose tempo and pressure once again in the Final.
In the other corner, New Zealand enter the Final carrying momentum of their own after a dominant 131-27 Semi-Final win over Samoa. The Junior Tall Blacks controlled the game from start to finish, combining defensive intensity with smart decision-making on both ends.
"It's real hot out there, but it's good to get out with the boys. That was fun. I'm proud of us."
The week has been an exciting one for Adams, his first time representing the country. He recalled the moment he was called up as he and the team prepare for one more game in Apia.
"It was pretty crazy - just a rush of emotions," Adams said of the moment he found out he made the squad.
"Then it was about getting out there and representing New Zealand."
That sense of unity has been a defining feature of New Zealand's campaign.
"The whole group's really good," Adams explained. "Everyone gets along - no little groups. It's really special playing with boys from all around the country."
New Zealand have shown they can score in bunches, but their biggest strength has been discipline - taking care of the ball, defending as a unit, and adapting to different matchups.
"It’s about looking at each individual matchup and doing what's best for the team," Adams said, looking ahead into the rematch in the Final.
As they prepare for that game, recovery and clarity remain priorities.
"Getting fluids, getting food in, recovery - and it'll be the same tomorrow."
Australia and New Zealand know each other well. Their rivalry runs deep across age groups, and recent meetings have again leaned Australia’s way - including a dramatic comeback win earlier in this tournament.
But Finals reset narratives.
New Zealand will enter believing they have learned, adjusted, and earned another chance. Australia, meanwhile, understand the challenge of being the standard-setter - knowing every opponent has nothing to lose.
The FIBA U17 Oceania Cup 2025 Final between Australia and New Zealand will tip off on Saturday, December 13, at 5:30 PM local time in Apia (Samoa).
Ealier in the day, Fiji secured 5th place with an 89-81 win over Cook Islands.
The FIBA U17 Oceania Cup and FIBA U17 Women’s Oceania Cup is being hosted by the Samoa National Basketball Association in Apia from December 8 to 13. The event is supported by the Government of Samoa under the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, with the two teams qualifying for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup and FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup 2026.
All games are livestreamed via the FIBA YouTube Channel in collaboration with BluWave Media.