36ers Seek Resilience Against Wildcats in Perth Showdown

PERTH, Australia – Feb. 6 – Adelaide 36ers point guard Jason Cadee remains confident despite recent losses, anticipating a strong bounce-back performance against the Perth Wildcats Friday night at RAC Arena. The 36ers aim to secure a playoff berth, while Perth seeks to solidify their position in the top two.

Adelaide enters the matchup after consecutive defeats, falling to Brisbane and South East Melbourne. However, Cadee believes the team’s resilience will shine through. “We have got an air of resilience within our group where when we get it right, we really do get it right,” Cadee told media Thursday. “We have had two good days of practice leading into this and I’m excited to see how we bounce back because we have bounced back in the past.”

A win for Adelaide would guarantee their return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Cadee acknowledges the intensity of the competition as teams battle for playoff spots. “The way the NBL is, it gets weird this time of year, there’s teams fighting for whatever spot, it’s going to come down to the last game as it always does,” Cadee said. “It wasn’t ideal how we finished at home our regular season; with the hope we will be coming back for semi-finals and finals.”

Limiting Perth’s star guard Bryce Cotton will be crucial for Adelaide’s success. Cadee recognizes Cotton’s exceptional talent, stating, “Bryce is elite, I’ve been in the league ever since he came along. Playing Perth in Perth, for my 15 years has been one of the toughest challenges.” However, Cadee emphasizes the importance of collective effort, stating, “It’s not just about Bryce; it’s about their whole group. Do you let Bryce have 40 and try and stop all the others and does that result in a win or do you let everyone else go off and try and stop Bryce. For me, it’s all about what Adelaide 36ers show up as a group on the court, and that’s the most important thing.”