Page 65 - Tropic Magazine Issue 37

TROPIC • SPORT

Off-season upskilling

BASKETBALL
The Cairns Taipans have been spending their
downtime playing and coaching in basketball
leagues across the world.
Words: Renee Cluff

2
2022/23 Roster

The Taipans’ latest line-up is a
mix of familiar and new names
DJ HOGG
TAHJERE MCCALL
LAT MAYEN
JONAH ANTONIO

SAM WAARDENBURG
KEANU PINDER

BUL KUOL
MAJOK DENG
1
MIRKO DJERIC
Far from putting their feet up this BEN AYRE
off-season, Cairns Taipans players
and their coaches have been travelling, We want to At the time of going to print, the
keeping their skills up-to-date in a Taipans had one import position
variety of competitions. The NBL’s Most come back and go remaining.
Improved Player for last season, Keanu to another level
Pinder, was named in the 12-player roster “We really wanted to focus on upskilling
for the Australian Boomers for the first Adam Forde and bit of professional development, not
time in his career, playing in the FIBA Taipans Head only from the players’ perspective but also
World Cup 2023 Qualifiers. He was Coach from the coaching side. It’s been a really
joined in Melbourne by Cairns Marlins Bul Kuol also spent some time in the good off-season in the sense of our guys
Head Coach and Taipans assistant Kerry USA working out with the Chicago Bulls, improving and working on their game.”
Williams, who also represented the green before being selected by the South Sudan Following a COVID-wrecked 2021/22
and gold in the coaching staff. national team for the FIBA World Cup season, the NBL is set to tip off
Across the ditch, Tahjere McCall played African Qualifiers. Fellow Taipan Majok again in October.
for the Hawke’s Bay Hawks in the New Deng flew for South Sudan, while Cairns
Zealand Basketball League, before assistant coach Sam Gruggen spent time 1. Keanu Pinder in green and gold for
travelling to the United States to suit up with the U17s national team in Spain. the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
2. Tahjere McCall & DJ Hogg formerly
for the Washington Wizards in the NBA “Most of the guys have been playing played together for Lakeland Magic.
Summer League. Taipans newcomer either NBL1 or doing something in the
Sam Waardenburg joined him there after off-season to keep themselves fresh,” MORE: taipans.com
being selected by the Dallas Mavericks. said Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde.

65 • tropicnow.com.au