Round 14: Taipans v Phoenix

CQUNIVERSITY CAIRNS TAIPANS V SEM PHOENIX
TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW

(Cairns Convention Centre, 3:00pm)
Watch live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Foxtel
Join us post-game at the Reef Hotel Casino!

LAST MEETING

It is exactly three months to the day the last time these teams met, in Round 2 on October 8. The Taipans were playing just their second game as a team, winning both on the road. Cairns fought back from a 28-13 fourth quarter run from the Phoenix, to finish with four players scoring double figures (Pinder 19, Hogg 18, Scott 15, McCall 15) and the 85-76 victory, capped by a classic Hogg triple.

LINE-UP

Keanu Pinder is set to miss another game, with the injury he sustained against United in Melbourne just before Christmas. This will be his fourth game on the sidelines, with development player Josh Davey remaining his injury replacement.

For the visitors, Trey Kell is out and will be replaced by Anzac Rissetto.

LOOK FOR

Sam Waardenburg to strengthen his ‘Rookie of the Year’ campaign. In the absence of Pinder in Brisbane, Waardenburg delivered 24 points and eight rebounds on 7/10 field goal shooting and 9/12 at the free-throw line.

Adam Forde also returns to head coaching duties, after missing the last match with illness. 

LATEST WORDS

“It wasn’t me. It was the guys, and Tahj. He’s been our on-court leader, emotional leader, and keep this group together. The group is just fun. It’s a fun group to be around. We’ll do review tonight’s game [in Brisbane] and move onto South East Melbourne tomorrow. But we’ll let the guys enjoy this [win] first. Just to comment about this group’s selflessness. It starts from the top. From the office, to Fordey. He carries the drop jump plate every roadtrip. It’s the heaviest thing we take on the road, and he carries. Those little things matter. He won’t say, but I’ll say it. That’s where it starts, from the top," - Coach Kerry Williams after filling in for Adam Forde

“More than a basketball mind, he’s a guy you want to be around. You feel comfortable around, he makes you feel at ease - that he’s on your side, and has your best interests in mind. He’s one of the most selfless guys I’ve been around. The time he puts in, the hours away from his family, - just everything. For him to get this opportunity and for us to perform like that, for us to show what Fordey has built in this culture through him, through me, through the guys that have been here. It shows change, and where Cairns has been and where we’re trying to go," - Tahjere McCall on Kerry Williams