DO IT FOR CAIRNS
Orange army cheers on Taipans in NBL finals
CAIRNS’ NBL team will go into tonight’s semi-finals opener against the Perth Wildcats with the will of the region behind them.
Battered by the impacts of coronavirus, FNQ is clinging to hope its basketball team can produce a minor miracle and go all the way.
Fans have stood by the team through lean years, including last year’s wooden spoon.
With top coach Mike Kelly at the helm, the Taipans have the chance to pay back their fans.
AN ORANGE army is gearing up for an east/west showdown when the Cairns Taipans face off against the Perth Wildcats tonight.
A run on tickets for the second fixture in the best-of-three semi-final round had the Anderson St Taipans office buzzing with excited fans eager to get courtside for Sunday’s game at the Cairns Convention Centre.
Cairns Taipans board member Ross Moller was beaming when boarding a cross continental flight to be at the game in Perth tonight.
“We all are (very excited) from the Mayor down,” he said.
“It’s just great for the city and probably one of the only things that is positive within the city at the moment.
“With the coronavirus and everything else going on, it’s the one shining light.
“It doesn’t matter who you talk to, those who I haven’t talked to about basketball for years are talking about it.”
He expected about 40 fans to make a quick trip to be back for the second game.
Fans reported a long line-up yesterday morning at the Taipans headquarters and by late afternoon, tickets were in short supply.
Mayor Bob Manning said it had been a long time since any team had been the talk of the town on this scale. “I think this is a wonderful story,” he said.
“If we win (tonight), we will paint this town orange – I will do it myself.”
Cr Manning said coming off the back of a lacklustre 2019 made making the semis even more special.
“In any other town, when you’re losing, supporters eventually lose faith,” he said.
“This must be testimony to Mike (Kelly) and to the players but to Mike particularly; people have not lost faith in him.”
The man key to getting a Cairns team in the NBL, Dennis Donaghy, said for a squad that had three returning players at the end of last season, the result had been outstanding.
“The whole town is behind them; they have done exceptionally well this year,” he said.
He said a win tonight and to clinch the semi-final series with a win at home on Sunday would be the prefect result for the people of Cairns, who had supported the Taipans through thick and thin.