Kai Sotto silent in Adelaide’s come-from-behind escape of Cairns

MANILA, Philippines – Kai Sotto and the Adelaide 36ers picked up their second straight win in the National Basketball League in Australia after completing a huge come-from-behind escape against the Cairns Taipans, 78-75, on Friday, December 2 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

With the score knotted at 75 apiece with just two seconds remaining, Adelaide’s Robert Franks, who struggled mightily on offense all-game long, delivered when it counted the most as he hit three pressure-packed free throws to give the 36ers the victory.

Despite trailing by 11 points, 60-71, midway through the final frame, Adelaide refused to give up, unloading a sizzling 15-2 blast, capped by an Antonius Cleveland layup with just 55 seconds remaining, to overtake Cairns and give the 36ers just their second lead of the ball game since a 2-0 start.

Cleveland led the charge for the 36ers with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals, while Franks finished with 15 points on 3-of-18 shooting, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.

On the other hand, the 7-foot-3 Filipino big man Sotto, who is coming off a 6-point, 5-rebound outing in Adelaide’s previous win, missed his one and only attempt from the field and failed to record any numbers in 7 minutes and 11 seconds of action off the bench.

For the Taipans, Tahjere Mccall dropped a game-high 24 points, while Keanu Pinder added 12 markers and 8 boards in the losing effort.

Adelaide – which climbed up to the No. 4 spot with a 6-5 slate – aims to extend its winning streak to three games when it takes on the Sydney Kings on Sunday, December 4 at 11 am, Manila time.