THEY are the Taipans' own ''A-Team'' - the group of new recruits set to inject offensive punch and defensive mettle to the Snakes as they bid to win their first NBL championship.
Alex Loughton, Ayinde Ubaka and Arizona Reid have hit the court with the Snakes as they continue pre-season training.
They’re not on the run for a crime they didn’t commit but the Taipans will be happy if the trio act as ruthless soldiers of fortune for the club in their debut season.
While Reid and Ubaka have settled into life in the Far North after starting official pre-season training last week, Loughton met most of his teammates for the first time yesterday after arriving in Cairns at the weekend.
The 27-year-old arrived in town sooner than he would have liked after being among the last players cut from the Boomers squad ahead of the world championships.
While disappointed, he is keen to channel that emotion into performing for his new club.
"There’s always a positive that can come out of it – I learnt a lot and I thought I improved during this off-season," said Loughton, who is heading back into the NBL after a season in Spain.
"In preparation for this year it helps to be a part of the Boomers squad. It was cut short prematurely, so I’ve just got to accept it and move on, wish them the best and move on.
"You just do the best you can with your local club.
"It’s a different role when you come back to your team, it’s a higher responsibility to contribute.
"That will build up the confidence, hopefully, come off a good year and put in a strong performance for the (next Boomers)
try-outs."
Loughton was the first big signing announced by the Taipans for season 2010-11 and he sees plenty of "upside" in the team assembled, including his A-Team mates.
"There’s a lot of different things we can go to," he said of the Taipans’ group.
"It looks like a smaller team at this stage without (the injured Ian) Crosswhite, we’ve got pretty quick but pretty tall guys in the guard position.
"Ayinde being (191cm) and pretty strong, we should be a fairly aggressive team and fast.
"Maybe the whole league’s moving that way, I’m not sure but that’s what we’ve got and that’s what we’re bringing to the table."
Taipans coach Aaron Fearne – who insists his recruitment drive was not motivated by available players’ first initial – is pleased with the group assembled but aware of the work still ahead.
"Ayinde proved what he can do last year. He’s definitely very excited and motivated to come back and prove he’s going to be very difficult to defend," Fearne said.
"Alex has that toughness, smarts and maturity. He’s performed very well in this league.
"And Arizona can just score and find different ways to score. He’s obviously a very good athlete.
"But it’s the task of getting them to play together, getting them to defend together, getting them to work hard together – that comes next."
