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Kai Sotto makes NBL debut but visiting 36ers yield to Taipans

Sports | Basketball

Kai Sotto makes NBL debut but visiting 36ers yield to Taipans

By Jonas Terrado

Kai Sotto (Photo from Adelaide 36ers)

Kai Sotto officially made his debut in Australia’s National Basketball League during the Adelaide 36ers’ 93-67 road loss Saturday, Dec. 18 to the Cairns Taipans.

The 7-foot-3 scored one point, grabbed three rebounds, dished out two assists and blocked two shots in almost 10 minutes but the 36ers saw their two-game winning streak come to an end at the Cairns Convention Centre.

Sotto’s first taste of NBL action came after missing the first four games of the season due to knee soreness.

He entered the game for the first time with 1:36 left in the first quarter and later blocked a shot by Cairns import Nathan Jawai to begin the second period.

But Adelaide couldn’t overcome a stirring performance by Cairns, which by a high of 40 on its way to a convincing win.

Adelaide dropped to 2-3 with its next match set Dec. 28 against the Perth Wildcats.

The 36ers came off victories over the Tasmania JackJumpers (83-80) and the New Zealand Breakers (98-85).

Majok Deng was among those who inflicted problems on Adelaide, going 23 points and seven rebounds as Cairns improved to 2-1.

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