The NSW team, who were undefeated, snatched a last-minute point to beat Victoria at the final and claim the top spot.

``We (NSW) were behind the whole game by 14, but in the last quarter we came back, got possession and won it was very intense,'' said Sergio, who is in year 10 at Pennant Hills High.

But the win was not altogether unexpected.

``We won every game by more than 20 points,'' said Sergio, who was joined at the nationals by Siatua Solaefe, who plays with him for the Hills Hornets under-16s side.

Sergio, who is a towering 196centimetres tall, has been playing basketball at a representative level for five years.

``First I played at school,'' he said.

``I liked it and then I played representative and got more into it.''

Sergio, who is most attracted by the game's speed, also plays for Redfield College under-20s and Black Mambas under-17s.

He plans to travel to the US this year with Basketball Australia's National Intensive Training Program, to get a taste of college-level basketball.

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