Page 62 - Tropic Magazine Issue 25

TROPIC • SPORT

1

Team chemistry

TIP-OFF BUZZ
The Cairns Taipans pre-season 2
has been a rollercoaster ride,
but the team being assembled is In the upcoming NBL 1. Artist’s impression of the Taipans’ new home
court at the old Bunnings Warehouse
set to be formidable. season, the Taipans will 2. Taipans legend Nate Jawai
enter unfamiliar territory
Following the devastating impacts of
COVID-19 and the ongoing Convention with an identifiable team
Centre redevelopment delays that could
have derailed the NBL competition, our “But the team last year in Cairns was my
Cairns Taipans are now preparing for the favourite. It was so much fun, and I’m
most unusual season in the club’s history. proud that the Taipans are bringing so
After a nervous wait, basketball fans Complementing the young core will be many of them back. It’s really exciting for
were buoyed by the Queensland State basketball veterans Jarrod Kenny for his the city, you know?”
Government’s commitment to Cairns’ third consecutive season, as well as local The 33-year old will suit up for his sixth
only national sport team with an product Nathan Jawai who has freshly season in orange, another achievement in
announcement they would support a signed a new two-year deal, in a huge his illustrious career that will forever hold
renovation of the old Bunning’s site for a testament of loyalty between both parties. the title as the first Indigenous Australian
temporary home. While the Palaszczuk “Winning a championship for Cairns to ever be drafted in the NBA.
Government turns the Spence Street is something I think about a lot,” Jawai “Of course, I’m at the point where I’m
warehouse into a professional sporting admitted to Tropic. “It’s definitely thinking about my future – I need to start
venue, the Taipans will enter unfamiliar something I want to achieve before the considering life after basketball,” Jawai
territory with an identifiable team, end of my career and with the way the said. “I’m working on something special
having re-signed six of their players from group is coming together – I believe we right now, and the Taipans are focused
last season’s successful mix. New NBL can do that.” on helping me. We’re using the extended
rules in response to COVID-19 will see all Jawai won a Championship in his long- off-season to our advantage. I am in a
clubs made up of only 10 players this year, awaited return to the NBL in 2016 with really fortunate position to give back. I
with one less import spot. The Taipans the Perth Wildcats, after the league owe so much to Cairns and to basketball,
snapped up their Aussie young guns in heavyweights lured the brilliant big man the next few years are going to be really
Mirko Djeric, Fabijan Krslovic and NBA- from a lucrative stint in Europe. important for me and the club.”
bound Kouat Noi months ago, to add to “That was an important highlight in my
Majok Deng who will enter the second career. It was a great experience and I MORE: taipans.com
year of his contract. have really fond memories,” he said.

62 • Tropic • Issue 25