NERVOUS WAIT FOR NOI
THE Taipans will find out the severity of Kouat Noi’s ankle injury this week as they aim to get their impressive rookie forward back for Sunday’s crunch clash with Adelaide at home.
The 22-year-old went down late in the second quarter of the overtime loss to SEM Phoenix on Sunday following a collision with an opponent.
After a quiet evening against Perth on Thursday, Noi was bouncing back in the best possible way over the opening two terms, grabbing nine big rebounds before going down with the injury.
The likely NBA-bound Noi looked to be in serious pain as he hobbled from the court.
Taipans coach Mike Kelly was unsure of the severity of Noi’s ankle injury on Sunday night but the club are expected to know more this week once the team is back in the Far North.
As the team arrived in Cairns on Monday afternoon, Kelly confirmed Noi, who was limping on arrival, would go for scans on his ankle early this week.
“He turned his ankle but I really have no idea,” Kelly said post-game.
“He was trying to go in the second half, but he just could not get it loose.”
The Far North club have had a charmed run with injuries so far this season, with guard Mirko Djeric’s twogame back lay-off the only injury worry so far.
Fellow guard Jarrod Kenny started the campaign with a groin complaint but he has bounced back strongly.
The Round 12 clash with Adelaide shapes as a key one for the Snakes, with both clubs battling for fourth position.
The 36ers are fourth following Round 11, with an 8-7 record, as Cairns are two slots back at 7-9.
The Taipans’ ladder position and record would be much improved if they had taken care of the Phoenix on Sunday afternoon just gone.
SEM Phoenix were on the brink of a damaging loss to fellow top-four aspirants Cairns on Sunday before John Roberson unleashed a 21-point barrage in the final six minutes of play to secure the overtime victory.
“We turned the ball over and they made threes,” Kelly said after the loss.
“I think if you’re six down with less than a minute to go and the other team has the ball, I think you have to have a little luck and they kept in the fight.
“We helped them out and they made some threes then they finished it off in overtime.”
Co-captain DJ Newbill scored 15 of his team-high 30 points in the third quarter to put Cairns in a position to secure a crucial road victory while import forward Cameron Oliver completed a doubledouble with 23 points and 13 rebounds.