Round 2: Taipans finish all over Phoenix

CQUniversity Cairns Taipans (85) def South East Melbourne Phoenix (76)
BOX SCORE
Next Game: Taipans v Wildcats, Monday 10 October 6:30pm AEST

SUMMARY

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans saved their best for last on Saturday to turn a 10-point deficit into a nine-point road victory to remain unbeaten to start NBL23 with the 85-76 victory over the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

The Taipans reeled the hosts back in and took over the contest after trailing by 10 points a minute into the fourth quarter.

The 10-2 run came via a wave of emotional play, as Keanu Pinder reignited after a quiet couple of quarters. His dunk with 1:40 to go punctuated a stirring victory, taking the Taipans to a seven-point lead just minutes after being down 10.

Most pleasing for Taipans coach Adam Forde is that this win snaps a nine-game losing streak at John Cain Arena, and it is the kind of win that sets a strong tone for the team going forward. 

They faced challenges in this game, both self-inflicted and from performances like from Mitch Creek, but emerged victorious.

The Taipans head straight home for their first game of the season at Cairns Convention Centre on Monday up against the Perth Wildcats.

STATISTICS

Keanu Pinder, last season’s Most Improved Player, was electric early. He put the Phoenix on notice with a highlight reel dunk in the opening minutes, and scored his team’s first six points of the match. The 26-year-old finished with 19 points and eight rebounds. 

DJ Hogg continues to impress following a 17-point showing in the win over the Illawarra Hawks. The Columbus-born Hogg poured in 18 points for the Taipans. 

Tahjere McCall was one of the main offenders in the turnover department, but his 15 points came at critical moments, when the Phoenix threatened to pull away. 

Shannon Scott also had 15 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals, Majok Deng five points and three rebounds, Bul Kuol five points, three boards and three steals, and rookie Sam Waardenburg six points.

STATEMENTS

Head Coach Adam Forde: 
"We've got rookies on this team that were trying to find their way, we've got veterans on their team that were trying to find their way. We know what we recruited for. We're going to have games like tonight where the floodlights don't open up and we go: 'Hey, that was a struggle.'

"I don't care if we lose the last 26 games in a row, I know this group will fight hard. And that's a really special group to have. I have extreme confidence in this group. Whether it was warranted or not. I'll go 0-28 with this group because it will be the best season that I've had. 

"Just to be able to get these wins as ugly and weird as it is. There was a moment with a timeout with eight minutes and you're down 10. Plenty of time left. I want attacking turnovers because we're still applying that pressure. Taj had seven turnovers. Four of them I'll live with. Three were him just working with his hands."

Debutant sharpshooter Jonah Antonio:
"It's perfect, man. It's a perfect fit. We have a lot of guys like that that can shoot and play like that. We all enjoy the way we can play."