Caledonia Gladiators closed out 2025 with a tough home defeat as Manchester Basketball claimed an 88–75 victory at Playsport in the final game of the calendar year. A tough night for the Gladiators in front of a sold-out home crowd, but after a short break the Gladiators will be back at home on Sunday, the 11^th of January to take on Surrey 89ers!

The visitors set the tone early, edging a competitive first quarter before gradually building momentum across the opening half. Despite spells of strong defensive pressure from the Gladiators, Manchester’s efficiency at both ends saw them take a double-digit advantage into the break, with the Gladiators trailing 34 – 50 at half-time.

The third quarter would see the Gladiators fight their way back into the game, making it a 8-point difference heading into the final 10 minutes of the game. The Gladiators raised the intensity, stretching the floor offensively and capitalising on key possessions to cut the Manchester lead and keep themselves into the game. The Gladiators battled to stay in touch, with Dwaine Jones Jr leading the scoring effort with 19 points, while LJ Bryan added 11 points and 8 rebounds inside. Jett Speelman also finished in double figures with 11 points.

The Gladiators showed resilience in the final period, pushing the pace and attempting to keep themselves in contention. However, Manchester managed the closing stages effectively, knocking down crucial shots and controlling the tempo to see out the win 75 – 88.

While the result was not the ending the Gladiators hoped for, the performance capped a demanding run of fixtures and brought the 2025 schedule to a close. Attention now turns to the new year, with the squad looking to regroup, reset, and build momentum as the season continues into 2026. The Gladiators will take the floor again on Sunday the 11^th of January to take on Surrey 89ers.