Exciting signs for Taipans in OT Blitz clash with 36ers

Life for the CQUniversity Cairns Taipans under coach Adam Forde began with an impressive overtime showing in a lot of ways against the Adelaide 36ers in Tasmania on Sunday on the opening weekend of the NBL Blitz.

It's the beginning of a new era for the Taipans in the 2021/22 NBL season with Forde arriving as coach along with a bevy of new faces including imports Stephen Zimmerman and Tahjere McCall who both put up encouraging first up showings.

The first hit out in the pre-season tournament for the Taipans took place Sunday afternoon at Tasmania's MyState Bank Arena and there was plenty to like in the eventual overtime loss to the 36ers.

While Nate Jawai didn’t suit up for the Snakes, it was an impressive looking starting five made up of the imports with Scott Machado joined by Zimmerman and McCall along with Kouat Noi and Majok Deng who are both ready to fire after injury-interrupted campaigns last season.

Adelaide threatened to open up a match-winning lead during the second quarter before the Taipans went on a 21-4 run either side of half-time. 

Things were tight the rest of the way before a putback from Zimmerman just before the buzzer in regulation was deemed to have been goaltending and we went to overtime. A couple of triples from Bul Kuol kept the Taipans in touch but ultimately the 36ers went on to win 91-87.

It was an impressive showing from left-handed big man Stephen Zimmerman for the Taipans and he finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Fellow new import Tahjere McCall added 16 points, eight boards, three steals and two assists.

Majok Deng put up 18 points and seven boards as well for the Snakes with Scott Machado contributing 12 points and five assists, Keanu Pinder 11 points and nine rebounds, Bul Kuol six points, Mirko Djeric three points and four assists, and Kouat Noi three points, three rebounds and two assists.

The Taipans rolled out with an impressive looking starting five with the trio of imports all out on the floor for the Blitz opener in Hobart.

Scott Machado is back with the Taipans for his third season and is joined by Tahjere McCall and Stephen Zimmerman with two men hampered by injury a season ago, Kouat Noi and Majok Deng filled out the starting five ready for big #NBL22 with the Snakes.

It was a tight opening quarter with both clubs feeling one another out in the first pre-season hit out but Keanu Pinder sparked the Snakes just before quarter-time with an offensive board and putback against his former team to make scores 17-17 after one.

Pinder then nailed a three to open the second period to put the Taipans in front before the 36ers built some momentum and opened up a 14-point advantage before a steadying Cairns three from Deng.

McCall then knocked down a triple for the Snakes before he added another heading towards half-time, and then gave himself 10 points in the half scoring again on the buzzer to bring the Taipans back within six at the break.

The Taipans then opened the second half on fire starting with inside finishes from Zimmerman and Deng before Noi knocked down a three ball for the 45-44 lead. Machado then hit another three to further extend the Cairns lead which became four with a breakaway layup from McCall.

A dunk from Deng helped the lead grow to six but by three quarter-time the 36ers had levelled things up once again and things remained tight throughout the fourth quarter with the lead continuing to fluctuate.

Deng and McCall knocked down big buckets to keep the Snakes in touch in the final minute, and then an offensive putback from Zimmerman got a goaltending call as Cairns levelled scores to force things into overtime.

It did take almost three minutes into the extra five minutes, though, for the Snakes to score when Bul Kuol hit consecutive three-pointers to bring the Taipans back within just two points.

It wasn’t quite to be for the Taipans with the 36ers winning by four but there was still plenty to like in the first outing for new coach Adam Forde for the men in orange.

The Taipans are next in action at the NBL Blitz on Tuesday taking on the Tasmania JackJumpers from 6.30pm.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

CQUNIVERSITY CAIRNS TAIPANS 87 (Zimmerman 18, Deng 18, McCall 16)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 91 (Johnson 33, Dufelmeier 14, Malou 9) 

BOX SCORE