5th Annual Eastern Cup Basketball Championships
We're excited to announce winners from the 5th Annual Eastern Cup Basketball Championships.
The East Arnhem region’s top basketballers assembled upon the East Arnhem Regional Council (EARC) Galiwin’ku Recreation Hall for two days of intense competition across the 24th and 25th June 2026.
Six women’s teams (Galiwin’ku 1, Galiwin’ku 2, Gapuwiyak, Milingimbi, Ramingining, Yirrkala/Gunangara) and six men’s teams teams (Galiwin’ku Ratjpa, Galiwin’ku Magic, Gapuwiyak, Milingimbi, Ramingining, Yirrkala/Gunangara) contested their respective titles.
Overall, approximately 100 players and 20 staff took part in the event that drew hundreds of spectators.
Women’s Rising Star – Deanna Darwin - Milingimbi
Men’s Rising Star – Dey Dey Yunupingu - Yirrkala
Women’s Tournament MVP – Lynette Garrawurra – Galiwin’ku
Men’s Tournament MVP – Jack Macale – Galiwin’ku Ratjpa
Women’s Skills Challenge Winner – Michaela Garrawitja – Gapuwiyak
Men’s Skills Challenge Winner – Nickolas Mununggurr – Gapuwiyak
Women’s 3 Point Shoot Out Winner – Michaela Garrawitja – Gapuwiyak
Men’s 3 Point Shoot Out Winner – Jacob Djamatjama Wunungmurra – Yirrkala
Dunk competition – Jack Macale – Galiwin'ku
Champions - Women’s Division - Gapuwiyak
Champions - Men’s Division – Galiwin’ku Ratjpa
This year for the first time with the help from Basketball NT, we have selected an East Arnhem All Star team for both the men’s and women’s divisions to acknowledge the basketball skills in our region. The team has been selected as a merit team that is representative of our whole region.
2026 East Arnhem All Stars
| 2026 East Arnhem All Stars – Women’s | Team |
|---|---|
| Ally Dhammarrandji | Galiwin’ku |
| Carolyn Burarrwanga | Galiwin’ku |
| Deanna Darwin | Candice |
| Caitlin | Dave |
| Louis Wirrpanda | Gunyangara |
| Lynette Garrawurra | Galiwin’ku |
| Mediline Wunungmurra | Gapuwiyak |
| Natasha Wanybarrnga | Ramingining |
| Roman Wunungmurra | Gapuwiyak |
| 2026 East Arnhem All Stars – Men’s | Team |
|---|---|
| Aris You | Galiwin’ku Magic |
| Jack Macale | Galiwin’ku Ratjpa |
| Jerome Lacey | Galiwin’ku Magic |
| Kevin Jia | Galiwin’ku Ratjpa |
| Kevin Garrawurra | Ramingining |
| Lachlan Gurruwiwi | Milingimbi |
| Leon Wunungmurra | Gapuwiyak |
| Maxwell Wunungmurra | Gapuwiyak |
| Nickolas Munungurr | Gapuwiyak |
| Steven Marawili | Yirrkala |
Big events like these are delivered with the help and support of many people and for this, we are extremely grateful. Firstly, thank you to all the players for your enthusiasm in taking part in this event. Thank you to Kylie, Jacqui, Alex, Dan and Mitch from Basketball NT for your management of the competition schedule and refereeing. Thanks to Manuel Dhurrkay for bringing us together to start the event with a special smoking ceremony to welcome all visitors to Galiwin’ku. Many thanks to Yalu and Sacred Business Services for providing and cooking BBQ’s for the community throughout the event. Thanks to our EARC staff, for their tireless work with set up and pack down, for scoring, ensuring cleanliness of the venue and for keeping everyone hydrated. Thank you to our Galiwin’ku Active Communities Coordinator, Evellena 'Milliy’ Wanambi, and Galiwin’ku Recreation Hall Coordinator, Verity O’Loughlin-Warr, and their team for their efforts in preparing the venue and for going above and beyond to ensure the success of the 2026 Eastern Cup! Finally, special thanks to our Active Communities Manager Dan Rule for pulling this year’s event together, being across every detail and ensuring everything went smoothly.
We have so many ideas for making the event bigger and better and we look forward to seeing you all again at the Eastern Cup in 2027!
Photographer: JD8 Official – JD8 Photography
