Basketball On The Internet.

IT'S now happened twice in the NBL's 36-year history - a championship decided on the last shot.

Amazingly, it happened in the league's first year of 1979 ... then it took all the way until 2015 for it to happen again, this time with New Zealand Breakers' import Ekene Ibekwe hitting the match-winning basket to clinch the championship from Cairns 83-81. 

BANE OF THE TAIPANS: Ekene Ibekwe, who would hit the championship-winner for NZ. 

Back in 1979 when men with vision and passion first launched the NBL, it was the mighty St Kilda Saints and Canberra Cannons who came to grips at the season's pointy end.

Robbie Cadee threaded a pass to a cutting Peter Vitols who made no mistake as St Kilda won 94-93.

Until Ibekwe's big basket this year won the championship, Vitols' vital shot was the only previous time the title was decided on a game-winner.

SAINTS BE PRAISED: Peter Vitols and Robbie Cadee, reunited 36 years later.

There have been big baskets and even game-winners since, but only Vitols and Ibekwe can rightly claim a championship-winner.