Snakes maintain their juggernaut start to the season
THE Taipans maintained their juggernaut start to the NBL23 season after a convincing win over the SEM Phoenix in Melbourne on Saturday.
The Taipans outscored the Phoenix 26-7 in the last nine minutes of the game to secure the 85-76 result and begin the season 2-0.
It was a stunning fourth quarter turnaround as they converted a 10 point deficit into a nine point win, thanks to the team helping Keanu Pinder to dunk with 1:40 to go.
Fans roared their support as from tip-off the Taipans showed they came to play serious ball.
When the final whistle blew, the Snakes had shown they could produce the same finesse as when they crushed the JackJumpers in Tasmania on October 3.
Named last year’s NBL Most Improved Player, Pinder’s tenacity earned him the player of the game award.
Although his game time on court was slightly over 29 minutes, Pinder made every second count and scored 18 points and took eight rebounds.
At jump ball in the first period his lay up meant the Snakes lead by two points before South East Melbourne Phoenix equalised 20 second later.
Points went back and forth until the Taipans were 18 points to the Phoenix’s 22 at the end of the first period.
Some tight shooting by DJ Hogg helped them lead 43 to 41 at half time, but the Snakes dropped behind 62 to 59 at the end of the third.
And the fourth quarter, as they say, is now NBL history.
Taipans coach Adam Forde said he was stoked as the win ended a nine-game losing streak at John Cain Arena.
The Taipans’ victory sets a robust tone for the team as they look to their Monday night game at Cairns Convention Centre, when they welcome former coach Mike Kelly and the Perth Wildcats to the tropics. Forde said he was proud of the team and his philosophy is “build the team you want to coach”.
“I have extreme confidence in this group,” he said.