Nothing could split the sides in the first half but the Rangers, who finished runner-up last year, could not contain the offensive strength of the Marlins, who had five players score 16 points or more.

Cairns Taipan National Basketball League (NBL) stars Aaron Grabau and Gary Boodnikoff netted 24 points and 23 points respectively to lead the Marlins with Grabau going on to be named Grand Final MVP.

Australia Post Boomers squad member Nathan Jawai tallied a powerful 21-point, 13 rebound double-double in support, including a number of massive dunks and proved the difference in the decisive third quarter.

For the Rangers Ash Cannan tallied a 20-point, 11 rebound double-double to lead Dandenong with Brent Hobba and Vince Inglima contributing 20 points and 18 points respectively.

Both teams illustrated why they were the remaining two teams left in the 2007 competition in a fast paced, high scoring opening term, which the Rangers won 37-36 to lead at quarter time.

The second term, much like the first, went basket for basket with defence taking a second seed to attack and with one three seconds remaining in the half Grabau nailed a 3-point basket from half way to gove the Marlins a 66-65 halftime lead.

Grabau had netted 18 by halftime for Cairns while Cannan, Inglima and Hobba all had 12 or more points each to their names for Dandenong.

The scoreline line stayed tight for the first half of the third quarter before the injection of Jawai, who wowed the crowd with his superior inside strength and bone rattling dunks pushed Cairns out to a 81-72 lead with three minutes remaining before eventually leading 92-81 at three quarter time.

Unfortunately for Dandenong, stars Hobba and Inglima were inhibited by foul trouble, both tallying 4 fouls each by the opening minutes of the final term.

Despite the gallant efforts of Hobba, Inglima and Cannan, it was Jawai’s sheer strength and constant ball he received from the Marlins’ guards that saw Cairns move out to an 11-point lead with five minutes remaining before eventually claiming the 2007 ABA National Men’s title 110-98.