MANILA – Kai Sotto and the Adelaide 36ers failed to carry over their four-game winning streak in the National Basketball League to 2023 after a stinging defeat on New Year’s Eve.
Sotto and the 36ers failed to protect their double-digit second half advantage en route to an 86-83 defeat to the Cairns Taipans on Saturday evening in Australia.
Leading by as much as 18 points at 78-60 with over seven minutes left in the game, the Taipans turned to Shannon Scott, who scored 10 points in a blistering 24-5 run to complete the come-from-behind win.
Scott finished the contest with 31 points, including five three-point conversions, to go with four rebounds and four assists as the Taipans improved to 11-7 win-loss record.
Tahjere Mccall also made his presence felt for the Taipans with 19 points, while DJ Hogg added 13 markers, including some huge baskets for Cairns in the endgame.
Antonius Cleveland, meanwhile, top-scored with 16 points for the Adelaide, which saw their four-game winning run snapped to slump to 10-9 win-loss record.
Ian Clark, who was part of Golden State Warriors champion team a few years ago, chipped in 15 markers in his second game as 36ers import while Daniel Johnson also had 11 markers.
Sotto started for the CJ Bruton-mentored 36ers for the fifth straight game and finished with eight points and four rebounds in close to 12 minutes of stint.
After scoring six early points in the first quarter, the 7-foot-3 Gilas Pilipinas center was not fielded back in the second half and was unable to help the 36ers in their endgame collapse.
The 36ers will look to return to their winning ways in 2023 as they face the cellar-dwelling Illawarra Hawks on January 6 at 4:30 pm, Philippine time./PN
