Taipans Off-Season: Major Moves

The Ground Cairns Marlins Head Coach and CQUniversity Cairns Taipans assistant Kerry Williams will represent the green and gold once again, joining the Australian Boomers for the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers.

Williams was appointed to the Boomers staff for the FIBA qualifier held in Cairns last year and is set to join Head Coach Brian Goorjian for his first event since the Tokyo Olympics.

This third qualifying window will take place in Melbourne from June 30 to July 4, with Australia, Japan, China and Chinese Taipei to compete in six games.

Ahead of Basketball Australia’s “Festival of Boom,” Basketball Australia will hold a coaching clinic at John Cain Arena before commencing the training camp.

Taipan Keanu Pinder has also been named to the 12-player roster for the first time in his career, joining the team headlined by three-time Olympian and bronze medallist Matthew Dellavedova.

Williams and Pinder will head to Melbourne this weekend, before flying to Indonesia for the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup, held from July 12 to July 24 in Jakarta.

Pinder is not the only Taipan representing his country, with Bul Kuol and Majok Deng also selected by the South Sudan national team for the FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers.

Meanwhile back at home, Taipans assistant (and Cairns Basketball Development Manager) Will Lopez will fill in for Williams’ absence and will be at the helm of the Cairns Marlins for at least the next four NBL1 games.

After winning the U16 FIBA Asia Cup, Taipans assistant Sam Gruggen will also be on the coaching staff for the U17 FIBA World Cup in Spain and will return to the coaching line-up for Marlins later next month.

Marlins will also be bolstered with the help of Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde, who will be supporting his assistants for selected games for the remainder of the NBL1 regular season.

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