The Perth Wildcats cemented their status as the NBL's greatest ever team after soaring to their seventh title with a crushing 75-52 win over the New Zealand Breakers in the grand final decider on Sunday.
Cheered on by a sellout crowd of 13,009 at Perth Arena, the Wildcats steamrolled their way to victory on the back of their best defensive performance of the season.
Wildcats captain Damian Martin was crowned grand final MVP after playing a key role in keeping star Breakers guard Cedric Jackson scoreless in game three.
Jackson failed to nail any of his five shots before fouling out in the final term.
His woeful display summed up that of the Breakers, who made just 11 field goals after quarter time.
Casey Prather (19 points) and Jermaine Beal (14 points) did the damage on the scoreboard for the Wildcats, but it was Martin's inspirational display in defence that shone the brightest.
The Breakers struggled to even get out of their own half at times, with Jackson particularly struggling under the intense pressure.
The result was sweet revenge for the Wildcats, who had lost two previous grand final series to NZ.
"Today was by far our best performance as a team. The chemistry in this group is the best I've seen in my 20 years of coaching," Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson said.
"Damo undersells himself all the time. To be on the most potent player today and lock him down - it was a big way to win the game.
"He's the best defensive player in the NBL. His leadership has been first class, and hopefully we can get a couple more years out of him."
Both teams entered the match on the back of a hectic travel schedule, which had seen them travel 10,700km in the space of five days.
But it was only the Breakers who showed any sort of fatigue, with Perth's high-energy display simply stifling the visitors.
The margin blew out to 20 points late in the third quarter, and from there the Wildcats cruised home for their second title in three seasons under Gleeson.
"Now I've got two rings for two kids. They can have a ring each," Gleeson joked.
After being awarded the MVP title, Martin let it slip that he and his wife Brittany are expecting their first child later this year.
"I got caught up in the emotion of winning. I looked at Brit (after saying it on stage), and I think I'm sleeping on the couch tonight," Martin said with a laugh.
"But it's out there now. It's just been a fantastic few weeks, from finding out I'm going to be a dad for the first time, to now winning a Championship."
Departing Breakers coach Dean Vickerman said he was proud of his group despite their game-three flop.
"It's a total you'd say you'd be happy to hold the Wildcats to, but offensively we were out of sync," Vickerman said.
"It's one of those feelings that you look back and (ask yourself), 'Could you do anything better?
"But Perth were better than us tonight. They played with much greater energy."
MOST EVER NBL TITLE WINS *7 - Perth Wildcats *4 - Adelaide 36ers, Melbourne Tigers, New Zealand Breakers *3 - Canberra Cannons, Brisbane Bullets, Sydney Kings, *2 - North Melbourne Giants, South East Melbourne Magic, St. Kilda Saints, *1 - Launceston Casino City, West Adelaide Bearcats, Illawarra Hawks, South Dragons,
PERTH WILDCATS CHAMPIONSHIPS
*1990, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2010, 2014, 2016
*Runners Up: 1987, 1993, 2003, 2012, 2013
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