Round 6: Taipans v United

CQUniversity Cairns Taipans v Melbourne United
(Cairns Convention Centre) TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
Watch live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Foxtel
Head to the official post-game party with the entire team at the Reef Hotel Casino

LAST MEETING
In what was a back-and-forth affair, the Taipans faced United on their home court just a few short weeks ago. Melbourne had built a 14-point lead before the Taipans went on a 22-0 run. With four minutes remaining, United wrestled back to get in front 76-70 but Cairns were just too good, and some reliable free-throws from DJ Hogg sealed their road victory.

LINE-UP
Taipans guard Tahjere McCall will remain sidelined for tonight, with his return-to-play date set for after the FIBA break. Development player Josh Davey will continue as his replacement, while training player Gabe Hadley will suit up in place for Mirko Djeric. In a game day update, Sam Waardenburg has been ruled out following shootaround (foot) while Jonah Antonio will be a game-time decision due to illness. 

LOOK FOR

Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde to be put to the test with two starters (Tahjere McCall, Sam Waardenburg) and potentially two scorers (Mirko Djeric, Jonah Antonio) out, as they face a Melbourne United side that are undefeated on the road this season. United are slowly gaining form with their important point guard Shea Ili back in the rotation, and a comprehensive win over the Wildcats last round. 

The pressure is on, as the Taipans are also the only team that have not won a home game yet. 

LATEST WORDS

“We had two guys in foul trouble at the end of the third, Shannon and Keanu were both on four fouls and that’s when Sydney got on their run. We didn’t do a great job of weathering that storm. It’s a little bit of the inexperience, that in-game situation with our young group, where we can move forward and be better for it, but if we want to a legitimate contender, which is what our plan is – we need to do a better job of closing out these close games. We’re playing more loose and free, when we’re down 10. And when we’re up 10, which has been the case the last couple of games, we tighten up. To be a Championship-contending team, we need to have the mindset to go, this 10-point lead is going to become a 20-point lead. And that 20-point lead, will become 30. We went out there trying to protect the 10-point lead, which is not the way you go about it,” – Adam Forde on losing a tight contest in Sydney

“We’re good as a group. It was a tough game to lose in Sydney, but that’s a great team – they’re top of the table for a reason. We held our ground, but we know what we need to do going into this game and knowing that we’ve got a FIBA break coming up as well, to not lose focus on this game whatsoever. We know what they’re like, we’re going to be locked in. We’ve been a little up and down lately, but we’ve done our best to move on from it. We’re all professionals,” - Sam Waardenburg on United