36ers star Sobey sinks former club Cairns Taipans
Cairns has yet to register a win on its home court after losing to a Nathan Sobey-inspired Adelaide 36ers. The former Taipan was one assist away from a triple-double.
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Nathan Sobey has run hot against his former side to lead Adelaide to NBL victory in Cairns.
The 36ers guard scored 22 points, pulled in 13 rebounds and dished off nine assists in the 91-83 win over the Taipans at the Cairns Convention Centre.
The Taipans led on and off but struggled to close out both halves.
Both sides were missing key US imports, in particular Adelaide’s Ramone Moore and Taipans star DJ Newbill sidelined with injury.
Sobey said it was just a coincidence he had a good record in Cairns, saying he had no extra motivation when playing against his former club.
“I just try and play hard every time I am out there,” he said.
“I’ve played some good games up here but that’s just the way it goes.”
36ers coach Joey Wright said it was an important win.
“Any time you win on the road it’s a good win,” he said.
“I thought we turned the ball over too much early so it was nice to turn it around.”
Adelaide has a gruelling travel schedule on Saturday that involves flights from Cairns to Sydney before a trans-Tasman trip to New Zealand.
“I think we have a 12-hour trip to New Zealand. We don’t get in to 12 or 1 at night.”
Veteran Taipans big man Nate Jawai showed he’s still got what it takes, scoring 11 and collecting nine rebounds for the home side.
“I thought we gave him too many point blank lay-ups. He’s a big boy and he’s going to finish strong around the rim and he did,” Wright said.
“We needed to fight him for space a little bit better. He got them going a little bit.”
Jawai, who was selected in the Boomers squad on Friday, had support from Dexter Kernich-Drew (17 points).
Taipans import Melo Trimble (10) was kept relatively quiet after firing in the opening two rounds.
Kelly is hoping fellow import Newbill will be available for the Kings clash after sitting out the Adelaide game with a shoulder injury.
The Taipans have not won at Qudos Bank Arena in eight attempts.
Sunday’s match will be the Taipans’ first NBL double header of the season and Kelly is hoping his side can handle the challenge.
“We built this team to have depth and we have depth,” he said.
“A few guys played extended minutes tonight — only a couple really — we’ll use that depth against a great Sydney team.”
Fierce rivals on the court as players, Kelly and Andrew Gaze will revive their NBL duel on the sidelines this Sunday.
Cairns Taipans coach Kelly was the defensive linchpin of the South East Melbourne Magic in the 1996 grand final series against the Melbourne Tigers and won the NBL finals MVP for his work in stopping hall of famer Gaze.
However, the current Sydney Kings coach got revenge a year later when he was able to help guide his side to a championship win against the Magic.
“I think I say we had a great rivalry but I don’t know that Drewy says we have a great rivalry,” Kelly said.
“Drewy’s great, I really respect him and he’s not the godfather — his dad (Lindsay) is the godfather of Melbourne and Australian basketball — but he’s right up there sitting at the right hand.
“He’s a phenomenal guy and a great representative of the Kings so it’s going to be fun to go up against him.”
Originally published as 36ers star Sobey sinks former club Cairns Taipans