Who Was in the Crowd When the Hawks Shocked Top-of-Ladder United
The Illawarra Hawks delivered a powerful performance at home, defeating Melbourne United 107–93 in their round seven Ignite Cup clash. The victory marked another strong statement for the Hawks, who dominated from start to finish against the league leaders.
The atmosphere inside the WIN Entertainment Centre was intense, with around three thousand passionate fans cheering from the stands as Justin Tatum’s squad reignited their title defence. For spectators, the night offered not just thrilling basketball but also memories captured in a vibrant crowd gallery.
“The Illawarra Hawks returned to winning ways and dished out more WIN Entertainment Centre pain on Melbourne United.”
The Wednesday night win came slightly more than seven months after Illawarra’s dramatic triumph over the same opponent at the same venue to secure their second NBL championship. While the crowd wasn’t as large as the decisive Game 5 of the Championship Series, the energy was no less electric.
Melbourne arrived in Wollongong riding high, having dropped only one of their first ten games in the NBL26 season. However, their previous visit to the arena ended in disappointment when Illawarra captured the championship in March, dealing United their second defeat in nearly five decades of competition. This time, the Hawks once again proved dominant, halting a two-game skid and improving to a 3–6 record before heading north to face the Cairns Taipans in Round 8.
Author's Summary
Illawarra reignited their season with a spirited 107–93 home win over Melbourne United, thrilling a lively crowd and keeping their NBL title defense alive.