Defending InsureMyVan.ie Super League champions Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU got off to a solid start with a narrow 89-83 derby win against Energywise Ireland Neptune.
Shawndale Jones Jr. racked up a whopping 34 points in the match, 10 more than any of his colleagues or opposition.
Ciaran O'Sullivan, player/coach of Ballincollig, said "It was great to get off to a winning start. Wins are going to be extremely hard to come by this season with the strength and depth around the league. It was wonderful to see a full house in MTU for our season opener, we played well overall but plenty of improvements to be made."
In one of the most tense and exciting games of the weekend, newly promoted Ulster University picked up an impressive 84-83 road win against Maree.
Conor Liston scored the game winning two-pointer on his Super League and club debut, to pick up the victory for Ryan McCormick’s side.
Belfast Star ran out 91–75 winners against Bright St. Vincent’s with Tamyrik Fields leading the points scoring, on 39.
In a Dublin derby Templeogue beat Pyrobel Killester 84-77 at the National Basketball Arena, while Griffith College Éanna opened their season with a 89-78 home victory against EJ Sligo All-Stars.
UCC Demons picked up a road win at the Killorgin Sports Complex, with a 94-76 victory over Flexachem KCYMS and Garvey’s Tralee Warriors comfortably beat Maigh Cuilinn by a 25-point margin, as it finished 90-65 at the Tralee Sports Complex.
SETU Waterford Widcats, DCU Mercy and Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell are the early pace-setters in the MissQuote.ie Super League, with each making it two from two to start the season.
SETU Waterford Wildcats ran out 99-52 winners against the Trinity Meteors, Sarah Hickey once again impressing with 31 points in their victory, while sister Kate was also singled out for praise by coach Tommy O’Mahony.
Irish captain Edel Thornton was Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell’s top scorer, on 21 points, as they defeated University of Galway Mystics 102–64.
Head coach Liam Culloty stated: "Obviously it was a very emotional weekend for the club following the passing of our President Andrew Drumm. Everyone in the club really turned up and I know he would have been so proud of the club today. Performance-wise we were happy. Some of our offence play was very slick, but again we know defensively we need to be better."
DCU Mercy narrowly edged out Ulster University with a 80-72 win at home, Brynley Fitzgerald registered 25 points for the victors. Pyrobel Killester picked up their first win of the season, beating Catalyst Fr. Mathews 81-67. Jiselle Thomas contributed 21 points for the Dublin club.
