Johor Jewels wrote their names into the history books by becoming the inaugural champions of the CelcomDigi Netball Super League (NSL) Regional Cup, executing a flawless masterclass in revenge to defeat bitter rivals Terengganu Marvels 56-48 in a thrilling grand final at Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara.

The victory was overwhelmingly sweet for the southern powerhouse. Prior to this clash, the Jewels had suffered a heartbreaking season, losing all three of their previous encounters against the Marvels this year—including a painful defeat in the main NSL league final just a week earlier.

Determined not to let history repeat itself, the tactical adjustments and superior fitness of the dual NSL champions proved to be the ultimate difference maker. After a tense back-and-forth opening half, the Jewels played like a team possessed in the third and fourth quarters. They relentlessly expanded their advantage to a 10-point lead in the final stretch, marking the biggest point gap they had ever managed against the Marvels all season.

A major key to the Jewels’ success was their suffocating defensive setup. They successfully neutralized Terengganu’s key playmakers, Adalia Jasmine and high-scoring import Tendai Masamba, breaking the Marvels’ rhythm and forcing them into uncharacteristic errors. The defeat effectively shattered the Marvels’ perfect, unbeaten record for the entire 2026 season.

The southern side also benefited heavily from their high-profile international imports, Gretel Bueta and Matilda McDonell. Bueta, the Australian superstar, put on a shooting clinic and was subsequently awarded both the tournament’s Best Shooter and Most Valuable Player (MVP) accolades.

Reflecting on the historic triumph, Johor Jewels’ star goal shooter, An Najwa Azizan, praised her team’s relentless mental fortitude.

“Sometimes we are on top, sometimes we are at the bottom, but you must never give up,” An Najwa stated, embodying the aggressive and highly disciplined mindset the Jewels brought to the court. “Previous losses didn’t weaken our spirit. Instead, they became the ultimate motivation to perform better on the deciding stage.”

En route to the final, the Johor Jewels also cemented their status as one of the region’s elite clubs by overcoming fierce challenges from local giants KL Wildcats and Singapore’s top club, Sneakers Singapore.

With this landmark win, the Johor Jewels proved that previous records mean nothing when the ultimate trophy is on the line, successfully stopping a Terengganu monopoly to claim the first-ever NSL Regional Cup crown.