Cairns Taipans youngster Kuany Kuany stands tall

Another round of the NBL is in the books. Check out what is making news around the league in Jordan’s Air — Round 5 NBL wrap.

Heat's Peter Crawford is guarded by Marlins Kuany Kuany. Picture: Zak Simmonds.

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• Melbourne show Kelly no mercy
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IT WAS hard work to try to find a positive in the Breakers beat-down of the Snakes but if there was one, it certainly had to be Kuany Kuany.

The little-used small forward has been relegated to towel waver for much of his NBL career.

When he was injected into the game in junk time, he did his best to show new coach Mike Kelly that he can play at the level.

The smiling Kuany finished with 10 points and six rebounds on a perfect 5-5 shooting from the field.

The second-year pro even got sent for media duties following the loss.

Well played Kuany.

CAPITAL INVESTMENT

CAIRNS are going to be involved in the return of professional basketball in Canberra that ends a 10-year wait for the city.

The Snakes are set to play Illawarra on Australia Day in the capital.

Over the weekend, Fairfax Media reported the Hawks and the ACT government are set to announce details of a one-off deal for the Wollongong-based side to play against the Taipans at the AIS Arena on January 26.

The NBL last played a game in Canberra in 2008 between the now-defunct Sydney Spirit and the Adelaide 36ers.

WATCH ON COTTON

WHILE there are not many positives about Cairns’ win-loss record, basketball fans in the Far North can look on the bright side that reigning NBL MVP Bryce Cotton is in town this weekend.

Bryce Cotton of the Wildcats (centre) drives to the basket during the Round 5 NBL match between the Illawarra Hawks and the Perth Wildcats at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, Sunday, November 11, 2018. (AAP Image/Craig Golding) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Cotton drilled a last second buzzer-beater to topple Brisbane in Round 5.

ANDO STILL STRONG

MOST blokes closing in on 40 battle to get off the couch some days but David Andersen is fighting fit and still playing some very good basketball.

At 38, the four-time Olympian and former NBA player finished with a team-high 18 points for the Hawks in their win over Melbourne on Thursday.

IMPORT FRONTS DESPITE SACKING

SACKED Adelaide import Adris De Leon showed more professionalism than most would over the weekend.

The veteran was told of his dumping on Friday and still fronted up to play in the 36ers loss to Sydney on Saturday, finishing with 11 points and a game-high six assists.

The club released the news of his sacking almost straight after the game on Saturday night.

De Leon did the right thing by the team.

Originally published as Cairns Taipans youngster Kuany Kuany stands tall