THIS is the ultimate story of the underdog defeating the rampant, ferocious Tigers on the basketball court. This is the night, August 16, 1989, when Ballarat Miners defeated National Basketball League powerhouse Melbourne Tigers by six points for the Victorian Basketball Association championship. This was the first time a country team reached the VBA final. The VBA pitted the state's NBL teams against the state's South East Australian Basketball League competitors in mid-week showdowns. Ballarat Miners had to defeat arch-rival Bendigo, and then-NBL team Geelong for the chance to face the Tigers, featuring Australia's best basketballer Andrew Gaze.