Skytrans Cairns Taipans' point guard Kerry Williams has suffered a setback in his comeback bid from injury and will now miss the remainder of the 2010-11 National Basketball League season.

Williams, who injured the medial and anterior cruciate ligaments in his knee in a pre-season clash, had been on the comeback trail, suiting up but not playing in the Skytrans Taipans home games against Perth and the Gold Coast.

Unfortunately, he twisted his knee during a shoot around in training last week and has now been scheduled to have full reconstruction surgery tomorrow.

“Our club doctor notified us that Kerry felt immediate pain while shooting around last week,” Skytrans Taipans general manager Mark Beecroft said.

“An MRI showed his ruptured ACL and a small horizontal split in his medial meniscus, which was not present on his previous scan.”

“The medical staff decided the meniscal tear needs to be addressed surgically and given his ACL is also torn, both can be repaired at the same time.”

“He will have surgery tomorrow (Tuesday) and will miss the rest of the season. It’s a huge blow for Kerry and the team – everyone was really hopeful he could come back this year but it’s just not worth the risk now.”

“Kerry is certainly a big part of our long-term plan, so we want him to take time now to rehabilitate his knee and come back fitter and stronger than ever next season.”

Beecroft said Williams would be placed on the long-term injury list and the club would now look at signing a replacement player.

The Skytrans Taipans hit the road this week, taking on the defending champion Wildcats in Perth on Sunday in a match which will be shown live on OneHD from 6:00pm.

The Skytrans Taipans will host a function at the Reef Hotel Casino for those Snakes fans who want to watch the game.

The next home game is against Wollongong at the Cairns Convention Centre on December 4.