NBL roster spots in mind as Marlins take on Rollers

BASKETBALL CAIRNS Marlins players will be playing for potential NBL contracts when they hit their home court against Gold Coast Rollers on Saturday.

The Marlins are riding a five-game winning streak, but in the Rollers face a battle which will truly test their title credentials.

Cairns Taipans elevated development player Fabijan Krslovic to the 11-man roster last week, and the workhorse immediately capped his big week with a strong performance in the Marlins’ 22-point win against the Mountaineers.

He is among the Marlins’ best this season, putting up 15.82 points, 9.64 rebounds and 2.55 assists per game.

Players like Christian Jurlina and Anthony Fisher have led the charge, while George Blagojevic, who arrived in Cairns driven to earn an NBL contract, has also impressed.

Marlins coach Jamie O’Loughlin said players on the periphery of the Taipans squad would improve their chances with strong games.

“It’s over to the guys who have been in the system,” O’Loughlin said.

The Taipans, who went 6-22 last year, are slowly building their roster for the 2019-20 season, with Krslovic joining Tom Jervis, Majok Deng, Jarrod Kenny and Mirko Djeric.

There is yet to be any public movement on the re-signing of fan favourite and Australian Boomer Nate Jawai.

The NBL is riding global publicity on the back of LaMelo Ball’s announcement he will suit up for Illawarra Hawks this season as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program.

Ball, the younger brother of New Orleans Pelicans star Lonzo Ball, is considered a first-round selection in the 2020 NBA Draft.