Saints Shine on Banner Night with Dominant Win Over Jets

The Mills Albert Wellington Saints opened their 2026 Sal’s NBL campaign in style, securing a convincing home win over the Manawatu Jets at TSB Arena on Sunday night.

On a special evening that saw the club unveil its 13th championship banner, the Saints produced a strong all-round performance in front of their home crowd to begin the season on the right note.

Competitive Start Before Saints Take Control

It wasn’t all one-way traffic early, with the Jets coming out ready to compete and keeping the Saints honest through the opening stages.

Wellington had to work for control of the contest, with Manawatu staying within touching distance and making sure the home side earned every bit of momentum in the first half.

As the game settled, the Saints began to find their rhythm. Their defensive intensity lifted, their execution improved, and they gradually started to create some separation heading into the main break.

Third Quarter Breaks It Open

If the first half was competitive, the third quarter was where Wellington really took command.

The Saints came out of halftime with purpose, lifting their pressure at both ends of the floor and putting together a dominant stretch that broke the game open.

Their ball movement improved, they made the most of their scoring opportunities, and defensively, they made life difficult for the Jets as the margin quickly grew.

Complete Team Performance

It was a composed and professional display from the Saints, with contributions coming across the group.

After being tested early, Wellington showed its class by staying patient, building into the game, and then taking full control as the night went on.

The home side’s ability to defend with intensity, play unselfishly, and maintain pressure throughout the second half proved too much for Manawatu to handle.

Strong Start to the Season

The win marks an ideal way for the Saints to open their 2026 campaign, and a fitting result on a night that celebrated another major chapter in the club’s history.

With their first result on the board and momentum already building, Wellington will now look to carry that performance into the weeks ahead.