A BREAKOUT performance from import guard Rob Edwards has helped the Cairns Taipans to their first win of the 2024/25 National Basketball League (NBL) season, getting the better of the Adelaide 36ers at the Cairns Convention Centre.

Coming into Saturday’s clash, the Taipans were considered underdogs, even though they had home court advantage. Cairns was convincingly beaten in the first round, and was still missing point guard Taran Armstrong, who loomed as the key to unlocking the team’s success on the offensive end.

The Sixers on the other hand, had taken the fight up to the championship favourites in the Sydney Kings in Round 1, and had spent the off-season constructing one of the best starting lineups in the entire competition.

However, the Taipans got on the board with a tremendous win, that was built largely on the performance of Edwards, who has stormed onto the NBL scene with a statement showing.

Cairns Taipans (101) def. Adelaide 36ers (97)

Rob Edwards – 31 points, four assists, one steal

Edwards was always looming as one of the best scorers in the import class, but fully cemented his standing as one of the most damaging offensive players in the NBL with a match-winning performance against Adelaide over the weekend.

His 30 points was the most of any player throughout the course of the round, and accounted for nearly a third of Cairns’ total score. Although other players did step up as well in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line, Edwards was consistent across all four quarters, and single-handedly put the team in a winning position in the first place.

From the field, he shot an accurate 12/19, which was impressive considering the defensive attention improved as the game went on. Edwards was always going to be a focal point of the team’s offence in the absence of Armstrong, and thrived with the added responsibility.

He did his best work from behind the arc, knocking down six triples on nine attempts in a magnificent sharpshooting performance. Whether it was off the dribble or immediately after catching the ball, he caught fire from three point land and recorded one in every quarter.

It was a magnificent breakout showing from Edwards, who is now a watch for a high-scoring performance every week now. Cairns will only improve once its point guard returns, and the pair will combine for many big scores in the future.